Virat Kohli Re-enters Top 10 in ICC Test Player Rankings After South Africa Series
Indian cricket stalwart Virat Kohli made a noteworthy start to the new year by reclaiming his position in the top ten of the MRF Tyres ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen. Following his contributions in the recent Test series against South Africa, Kohli climbed four places to secure the ninth position with a rating of 761, reaffirming his status as the leading Indian batter in the list. Kohli’s scores of 38 and 76 in India’s recent loss to South Africa played a pivotal role in his ascent.
On the other side, South African veteran Dean Elgar, after his impressive performance in the first Test in Centurion, has risen by 19 places to claim the 17th spot with a rating of 680. Elgar’s outstanding innings of 185 against India set the stage for a dominant Proteas victory, earning them 12 World Test Championship points in the process.
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In Australia, the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan witnessed minor movements in the batting rankings, with Mitchell Marsh making the most significant change by moving up 16 places to 52nd (504). Despite a quiet Boxing Day Test and a four-spot dip, Travis Head maintained his position in the top 10 with a rating of 754.
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In the Test bowling rankings, Jasprit Bumrah re-entered the charts after his return to Test cricket, securing the fifth position (767), slightly behind compatriot Ravindra Jadeja (774). Marco Jansen’s performances led to a three-place jump to 22nd (618) in the bowling rankings and a five-place rise to 8th in the all-rounder rankings, achieving a career-best rating of 268.
The T20I Player Rankings saw movements with Bangladesh facing New Zealand and the UAE hosting Bangladesh. Mitch Santner’s four-wicket haul in Mount Maunganui propelled him eight places up to eighth (657). Shoriful Islam’s excellent week resulted in a 32-spot jump, while Mustafizur Rahman moved five spots to 22nd (605).
In Sharjah, Afghanistan won the three-match T20I series against the UAE, leading to notable movements in the rankings. Afghan batter Ibrahim Zadran climbed 14 spots to 33rd after a half-century, while UAE’s Ali Naseer (up 29 places) and Muhammad Jawadullah (up 22 spots) were the most significant movers in the bowling rankings.
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The ICC Player Rankings also provided insights into the ongoing performances of players in the T20I format, showcasing the dynamic nature of player movements across different series.
