Pant Surges to 6th in ICC Test Rankings, Kohli Drops Out of Top 20

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant made significant strides in the latest ICC Test batting rankings, climbing five spots to secure sixth place. This comes after his remarkable performance in the recent three-Test series against New Zealand, where he was the highest scorer for India, amassing 261 runs at an average of 43.50, including three half-centuries. Pant’s standout knock was a resilient 99 in the first Test, followed by scores of 60 and 64 in the final game.

Meanwhile, India’s former captain Virat Kohli experienced a notable dip, dropping eight places to 22nd—the first time he has been outside the top 20 in nearly a decade. Kohli managed only 93 runs in the series, a performance that contributed to his fall in the rankings.

New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell also made impressive gains, advancing eight spots to reach the seventh position. Mitchell’s consistency in the series, highlighted by an innings of 82 in the Mumbai Test, contributed to his rise. On the other hand, Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal slipped one place to fourth, following a challenging series with just 190 runs across three matches.

In the bowling arena, India’s Ravindra Jadeja saw a boost, climbing two spots to sixth after a stunning ten-wicket haul in the third Test. Jadeja’s figures of 10/120 underscored his prowess as he crossed the 800-point mark in the ICC rankings. In contrast, his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin dropped to fifth, with a relatively modest nine wickets over the three matches.

New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel also achieved a new career-high, moving up 12 places to 22nd following his game-winning figures of 11/163 in the third Test. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada consolidated his lead at the top of the fast bowling rankings, and Shaheen Afridi of Pakistan climbed to fourth in ODI rankings.

The latest ranking updates reflect the ever-shifting landscape of international cricket, with Pant emerging as a key player for India while Kohli and Ashwin face challenges. With several high-stakes series still on the horizon, these rankings promise to see further shifts as players continue their quest for top spots.

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