Pant Shines in ICC Test Rankings; Rohit, Kohli Face Declines After Series Loss
In the latest ICC Test Batters Rankings update, Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has made an impressive leap due to his outstanding performance in the recent Test series against New Zealand. His consistent scoring, including two half-centuries in the third Test with a lucrative batting strike rate, has advanced him five places to sixth overall. Pant is now just one rank away from his career-high fifth position, which he previously held in July 2022 before his unfortunate accident.
Conversely, Indian captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli have experienced significant drops in the rankings following India’s 0-3 series defeat at home. Both players struggled to find form during the series, with Rohit scoring only 91 runs over six innings and Kohli managing 93 runs. Their lackluster performances have seen them fall out of the top 20, a notable decline as both were among the top 10 at the start of the home season, marking another shameful test year in their whole career.
Throughout the season, Kohli’s average dipped to 21.33 with a total of 192 runs in ten innings, while Rohit’s season average of 13.3 marks his second-lowest as a captain in home Tests. This has resulted in Kohli dropping eight places to 22nd, while Rohit has slipped two spots to 26th.
At the top, former England captain Joe Root leads the Test rankings with 903 rating points, followed by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson. England’s Harry Brook is in third with 778 points, while Australia’s Steve Smith holds fifth place. Pant’s strong showing brings some optimism for India amid an otherwise challenging Test season for the team. With the upcoming BGT series, Pant has a high chance to climb sharply to the top of the table.
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