Virat Kohli has scored 610 runs at a staggering average of 152.5 in the 3 Test series against Sri Lanka that concluded yesterday. In this series Kohli also registered his career best score in the first innings at Kotla. This hefty cluster of runs that Kohli got in this series has made him climb places in the ICC test rankings.
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Having started the series with being on the sixth spot, the Indian Skipper has ended the series having reached the second place. Virat Kohli is already the top ranked batsman in ICC ODI and T20 rankings. Now in Tests he is only behind Steve Smith, the Aussie Skipper. Steve Smith touched his career best ratings of 941 points last week and is displaying batting of a different league. At present Smith has 938 points while Kohli has 893 points to his name.
Intense competition in top 5
Interestingly while Smith enjoys a hefty lead of 45 points over Virat Kohli, the difference between the second spot and the fifth spot is just 28 points. Kohli at the second spot and Kane Williamson at the 5th spot have an intense competition as the difference of points is too small.
With a tale of extra ordinary performances in the test series against Sri Lanka, Virat Kohli surpassed David Warner, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kane Williamson and Joe Root. These latest ICC rankings also take into account the second Ashes Test in which the Kangaroos gave second consecutive defeat to England.
Kohli has a chance to be at par with Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting is the only batsman to have been on the first spot in all three formats. This was achieved by the former Aussie captain in December- January, 2005-2006. Now Kohli has a great chance to reach the zenith in the test rankings too and achieve this magical feat. He has every chance to reach there.
Other gainers in the rankings
The Sri Lankan Test Captain piled up 366 runs in the series and moved up places to reach the 9th spot. On the other hand Shaun Marsh has had a really good Ashes outing in the second test and he moved up places too. Marsh is now at the 27th position which is his career best. Angelo Mathews too saw his name climbing in the rankings after a century and he now enjoys the 23rd spot.
Latest Test team rankings:
ICC Test Team Rankings (as of 7 December, after the third and final Test between India and Sri Lanka in New Delhi, the second Test between Australia and England in Adelaide, and the first Test between New Zealand and the Windies in Wellington)
Rank Team Points
1 India 124 (-1)
2 South Africa 111
3 England 105
4 New Zealand 97
5 Australia 97
6 Sri Lanka 94
7 Pakistan 88
8 Windies 75
9 Bangladesh 72
10 Zimbabwe 02
ICC Test Batsmen Rankings
ICC Test Bowler Rankings
ICC Test All-Rounder Rankings
Stats Source: Crictracker.com
