Virat Kohli Climbs 6 Places in ICC Test Rankings
Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli has made a strong comeback in the ICC Test Rankings, jumping six places to secure the sixth spot. This follows his impressive performance in the recent Test series against Bangladesh, where he scored 47 and an unbeaten 29 in the second Test, helping India secure a seven-wicket victory. This win has strengthened India’s position at the top of the World Test Championship standings.
Though Kohli fell just three runs short of a half-century, being dismissed by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan for 47, the 35-year-old still made history. During the match, Kohli crossed the 27,000-run mark in international cricket, becoming the fastest player ever to achieve this milestone. He broke the previous record held by Sachin Tendulkar, who reached the mark in 623 innings. Kohli accomplished it in just 594 innings, setting a new benchmark in world cricket.
India’s win over Bangladesh has also bolstered their chances of reaching the World Test Championship final for the third consecutive time. The victory saw standout performances from multiple players, particularly young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was named Player of the Match for his scores of 72 and 51. His consistent performance helped India navigate a rain-affected Test.
Jaiswal’s impressive run has also seen him rise to third in the latest ICC Test batter rankings, trailing only England’s Joe Root and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson.
Elsewhere, other international players have made significant progress in the rankings. Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis jumped five spots to 11th after scoring a century in their Test series against New Zealand. Meanwhile, Dinesh Chandimal (up to 20th) and Angelo Mathews (up to 23rd) have also advanced in the rankings.
On the bowling front, India’s Jasprit Bumrah has overtaken teammate Ravichandran Ashwin to reclaim the top spot in the ICC Test bowler rankings. Bumrah’s six wickets against Bangladesh played a key role in India’s victory, earning him 870 rating points. Ashwin, who took five wickets himself, remains just one point behind.
Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan and veteran spinner Shakib Al Hasan have also seen their rankings improve, with Mehidy moving up to 18th and Shakib rising to 28th in the updated standings.
