ICC Test Batsmen Rankings: Virat Kohli becomes highest-ranked Indian batsman
Joe Root, Alastair Cook and Virat Kohli were the major movers in the latest ICC Test rankings for batsmen after the trio all scored centuries in their previous Test against Pakistan and West Indies respectively. While Root has climbed to second place, Kohli is now the highest ranked Indian batsman at No.12.
Thanks to his 29th Test century, that brought him level with Don Bradman in terms of most Test tons, Cook forced his way into the top ten and is currently at No.9. Pakistan’s Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq both had contrasting fortunes. Six consecutive Test innings without a fifty meant Younis dropped from sixth to 10th place while Misbah climbed up a place to eighth.
Although the top 10 still has no Indian batsman, it has three Australian, two Englishmen and two each Pakistan and South Africa and a solitary Kiwi batsman.
Root and Kohli both scored their career-best Test scores in the last week and both were richly rewarded for their performances. The former climbed two places from fourth to move into second, just 24 points behind the top-ranked Steve Smith, who maintained top spot. The Australian will be looking for a good score in the first Test to maintain his lead.
Kohli, on the other hand was 14th before the start of the West Indies, two places behind Ajinkya Rahane, who was not only the top-ranked Indian batsman but also the highest ranked batsman from either West Indies or India. A poor show in the first Test meant that he moved down to 14th and Kohli took his place at No.12 and will be looking to improve on his career-best Test ranking of 8 before the series ends.
Despite having a disappointing time in the first Test, Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara both climbed one place each and are at number 17 and 18 respectively and thus four Indians feature in the top 18 although no one is in the top 10.
Root’s move up the rankings mean Williamson and Amla slip to No.3 and No.4, while AB de Villiers and Adam Voges remain fifth and sixth as the rest of the top 10 doesn’t see too many major changes..
ICC Test Rankings for batsmen
| Ranking | Batsman | Rating |
| 1 | Steve Smith (Australia) | 925 |
| 2 | Joe Root (England) | 901 |
| 3 | Kane Williamson (New Zealand) | 868 |
| 4 | Hashim Amla (South Africa) | 860 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers (South Africa) | 818 |
| 6 | Adam Voges (Australia) | 811 |
| 7 | David Warner (Australia) | 800 |
| 8 | Misbah-ul-Haq (Pakistan) | 790 |
| 9 | Alastair Cook (England) | 788 |
| 10 | Younis Khan (Pakistan) | 784 |