Pant Climbs to No. 6 in Test Batting Rankings Following Century in Chennai

Rishabh Pant has returned to the Test batting rankings at No.6. At the same time, Prabath Jayasuriya and Yashasvi Jaiswal were the other big climbers up that table- while Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has descended- following the test matches in Chennai and Galle. Afghanistan’s white ball stars Rahmaullah Gurbaz and Rashid Khan have increased significantly in the ODI ranking charts. Australia’s Travis Head has also taken a notable leap. 

Pant, playing test after nearly a hiatus of two for the first time since a fatal car crash threatened to end his career- scored 39 and 109 in each of the two innings of India’s 280-run victory over Bangladesh in their inaugural test in Chennai. That brought Pant right back into sixth place with 731 rating points. Jaiswal, who was in sixth position before the latest update, climbed up to fifth on the back of his 56-run knock in India’s first innings, which fetched him 751 points. 

Joe Root is well clear of others on the list, with 899 points. Kane Williamson, who scored 55 and 30 in NZ’s 64-run loss in the opening test in Galle, is in second place with 852 points. Daryl Mitchell (760 points) and Steve Smith (757 points) occupied their spots above Jaiswal. 

But Rohit who failed in both innings of the test against Bangladesh has fallen quite sharply from No.5 to No.10, just four rating points above Babar Azam at Number 11. 

Virat Kohli also fell five spots, to No. 12 after scores of 6 and 17, while Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten 119 in the second innings against Bangladesh, moved up five places to 14th place. 

In the bowling rankings, Jayasuriya moved five positions to Number 8 after a match-winning 4/136 and 5/68 against the Kiwis. 

Indians and Australians dominate the table. R. Ashwin (0/29 and 6/88) in Chennai is No.1, followed by Jasprit Bumrah (4/50 and 1/24). Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada occupy the third, fourth and fifth spots before another Indian, Ravindra Jadeja  (2/19 and 3/58) slots in at sixth, with Nathan Lyon at Number 7. 

Meanwhile, Kamindu Mendis courtesy 114 in the first innings against the Black Caps moved to 14th place on the batters’ list. 

Rahmunullah, who scored his seventh ton against South Africa in the second ODI against the Proteas in Sharjah followed by a fine 89 in the next two games became the first batter from his nation to enter the ODI top ten rankings.  The wicketkeeper batter has reached a career-best rank of 8th place. 

Australia’s Travis Head who smashed an unbeaten 154 against fierce rivals England in a match where he also picked up 2 wickets with the ball in hand- went up to seven spots to Number 9. 

In the recently concluded AFG vs SA series, Rashid was the chief contributor for his team. He took seven wickets across Afghanistan’s two wins over South Africa, going up a massive eight spots on the bowlers’ table to Number 3, only behind Keshav Maharaj and Adam Zampa.