Virat Kohli retains test batting crown and Ajinkya Rahane joins him in the top 10

Fri Jan 24 22:48:29 IST 2020

Since usurping Steve Smith to gain the no. 1 spot in International Cricket Council (ICC)’s Test batting ranking list last December, Virat Kohli entered the new decade with his rank unruffled. With 928 ratings, the Team India skipper is still leading the list, while teammate Ajinkya Rahane holds his position at 8th with a rating of 759.

Image Courtesy: AFP

Along with brilliant spell in the recent limited overs cricket, Virat Kohli had an amazing performance during last year’s Test series against South Africa and Bangladesh. The 31 year put up an astounding 254 against the Proteas in October 2019, and an impressive knock of 136 against Bangladesh in the historical pink ball Test match in November at Eden Gardens.

Eearlier expressing his love for the Test format, Kohli has been revered by pundits and supporters for endorsing red ball cricket in the country, and even Ravi Shastri, the head coach was full of praise for the skipper for his leadership role.

Former Aussie captain Steve Smith is trailing behind Kohli in second position with a rating of 911. The previous world no. 1 reached the top spot after a brilliant Ashes last year, but post his place to Kohli after a lacklustre Pakistan series.

Ajinkya Rahane, who dropped from 6th position to 8th, hasn’t got recent call ups for the Men in Blues in white ball cricket, but is still the Test squad’s middle order run machine. In the Bangladesh Test series back in November, the 31 year old put up a combined total of 137 runs. He was India’s second highest scorer in India’s first innings in the first test at Holkar Stadium, and scored his 22nd half century of red ball cricket in the second test at Eden Gardens.

Cheteshwar Pujara, previously wanked world no. 4, went down to 6th position in the list with 791 ratings. The 31 year old scored 81 in the first South Afirca Test match, followed a 58 in the second one in October. In November, he scored two half centuries in the Bangladesh test series.

Following the closure of the ongoing T20 and thereafter the 3 match ODI series against New Zealand, the much awaited Test is coming next month, starting on 21st February at the Basin Reserve cricket ground in Wellington.