Pune: Virat Kohli's unbeaten 254 in the second Test against South Africa has put him within touching distance of top-ranked Steven Smith in the ICC rankings for Test batsmen. Kohli's tally stands at 936 points, while Smith sits on 937.
The India captain will have the opportunity to regain the top spot, when India faces South Africa in the third Test in Ranchi, starting October 19.
Other players who made significant strides included India opener Mayank Agarwal, who followed a double-century in the first Test with a century in the second to rise to a career-high 17th spot. Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, at fourth and ninth places respectively, are the other two Indian batsmen in the top 10
Meanwhile, ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has continued his rise in the ICC Test Rankings for bowlers after his stupendous show with the ball in the Pune Test against South Africa which India won by an innings and 137 runs.
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⬆️ Ashwin
— ICC (@ICC) October 14, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
⬇️ Philander
After taking six wickets in India's win over South Africa in Pune, R Ashwin has continued his rise in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for bowlers. pic.twitter.com/1whGqEfnxk
">⬆️ Ashwin
— ICC (@ICC) October 14, 2019
⬇️ Philander
After taking six wickets in India's win over South Africa in Pune, R Ashwin has continued his rise in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for bowlers. pic.twitter.com/1whGqEfnxk⬆️ Ashwin
— ICC (@ICC) October 14, 2019
⬇️ Philander
After taking six wickets in India's win over South Africa in Pune, R Ashwin has continued his rise in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for bowlers. pic.twitter.com/1whGqEfnxk
Ashwin, who had entered the top 10 after the first Test in Visakhapatnam, has now moved to the seventh spot, courtesy his six wickets which he took against the Proteas in the second Test.
The other Indian in the top 10 is Jasprit Bumrah, who has maintained his third spot despite not being a part of the current squad playing against Faf du Plessis's men.
India, who have already take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, will face South Africa in the final Test beginning Saturday in Ranchi.
