Virat Kohli has regained the number one position in Test cricket in the recent ICC rankings that was released on Wednesday. Kohli went past Australia’s Steve Smith after a blistering hundred against Bangladesh in the Day-Night Test that was held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Kohli had held the numero uno position for a long time before Smith reclaimed the top spot after notching up 774 runs in four Tests during the Ashes against England in August.
Kohli moved up to the number one spot after Smith dropped points following a dismal showing in the two Tests against Pakistan in Brisbane and Adelaide. Kohli has 7202 runs with 27 hundred from 84 games, and will not play any more five-day games in 2019. Smith, on the other hand, has 7013 runs with 26 tons from 70 matches and plays two more Tests against New Zealand this year – and will have the chance to overtake Kohli as the number one batsman by the end of the year.
Indian vice-captain Ajikya Rahane dropped to sixth place after David Warner rose to the fifth after his phenomenal 335 not out at Adelaide against Pakistan in the Day-Night Test match. With Cheteshwar Pujara ranked number 4, India has as many as three Indians in the top 10 ICC Test rankings.
Top 10 batsman in ICC Test rankings
- Virat Kohli – 928
- Steve Smith – 923
- Kane Williamson – 877
- Cheteshwar Pujara – 791
- David Warner – 764
- Ajinkya Rahane – 759
- Joe Root – 752
- Marnus Labuschagne 731
- Henry Nicholls – 726
- Dimuth Karunaratne – 723