India captain Virat Kohli managed to retain his 2nd spot on ICC Test Batting Rankings despite the horror run with the bat in the recently-concluded 2-Test series against New Zealand.
In the latest ICC Test Rankings updated on Tuesday, Steve Smith is sitting pretty on the top of the Test Batting Rankings with 911 points.
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, has dropped 20 points from 906 but is comfortably holding the No. 2 spot. Virat Kohli has a 59-point lead over No. 3-ranked Australia batsman Manus Labuschagne.
In the crucial Test series that is part of the World Test Championship, Virat Kohli’s form (or the lack of it) was India’s major concern. In 2 Tests and 4 innings, Kohli managed just 38 runs at an average of 9.50.
Meanwhile, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has dropped a spot to 9th after an equal horror run with the bat in New Zealand. Rahane managed just 91 runs in 4 innings and was demoralized by some short-pitched stuff from Neil Wagner in the Christchurch Test.
On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara rose 2 spots to 7th. He was among the only 2 Indian batsmen to have scored more than 100 runs in the 2-Test series in New Zealand.
Opener Mayank Agarwal though dropped outside top 10 and slipped to the 11th spot despite being India’s top-scorer with 102 runs in New Zealand.
In the Test Bowling Rankings, India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah climbed 4 spots to 7th after regaining form towards the end of the Test series.
Bumrah, who looked ordinary in India’s 10-wicket defeat in Wellington, troubled New Zealand batsmen and finished the series with 6 wickets.
Bumrah, who returned to the Test side after missing the home season last year, rattled the New Zealand batsmen on Day 3 of the 2nd Test. He had removed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in both the innings of the 2nd Test.
The Test Bowling Rankings is being led by Australia’s Pat Cummins followed by New Zealand’s Neil Wagner. Fast bowler Tim Southee climbed 2 spots into the top 5 after emerging the highest wicket-taker (14) in the 2-Test series against India.
