ICC Test Rankings: Virat Kohli out of top 20 after 10 years; Rishabh Pant rewarded with a place in top 10 for fighting knocks

India's Virat Kohli (R) and Rishabh Pant react during the second day of the first Test cricket match between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17, 2024.
Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant

Highlights:

Virat Kohli did not cross the 100-run mark in the Test series against New Zealand.

Rishabh Pant was the highest run-scorer in India vs New Zealand Test series.

India's veteran batter Virat Kohli took a massive hit in rankings after a disappointing run in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand. Kohli who registered single-digit scores in the defeat at Wankhede Stadium has slipped eight places to 22nd in the newly released International Cricket Council (ICC) Test batter rankings. This is the first time since 2014 Kohli has fallen out of top 20. 

There were a few changes in the top 10 as well. Yashasvi Jaiswal slipped one position to fourth and Harry Brook claimed the third spot. Pant who scored two half-centuries in the Wankhede Test rose five places and has now occupied the sixth spot. New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell rose eight places to seventh spot after an 82-run knock in the third Test.

Gill rewarded, Rohit slips

Apart from Kohli, New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra slipped 10 places to 21st. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma took a hit as well and went down two places to 26th. Meanwhile, top order batter Shubman Gill was rewarded for a century in the third Test of the series. Gill went up four places and now holds the 16th spot.

The top spot belongs to Joe Root with 903 rating points. He is way ahead of other batters in the rankings. New Zealand's Kane Williamson who missed the Test series against India due to groin injury is in second position.

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One notable change outside top 20 was South African opener Tony de Zorzi. The left-handed batter made a huge leap of 32 places to reach 38th place after a 177-run knock against Bangladesh. Similarly, New Zealand;s Will Young gained 29 spots to move to 44th as he scored 244 runs in the series replacing Williamson in the side.

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Jadeja gains, Ashwin slips

There is a minor shuffle in the top 10 bowler's rankings as well. Ravichandran Ashwin slipped one place to fifth and swapped spots with Australia captain Pat Cummins. Ravindra Jadeja went up two places to sixth. The top spot belongs to South Africa's Kagiso Rabada who recently completed 300 Test wickets. Rabada is followed by Josh hazlewood and Jasprit Bumrah. 

Major gain for Ajaz

Ajaz Patel who bagged 11 wickets to help New Zealand completed cleansweep gained 12 places to reach 22nd spot. Proteas left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj gained  four spots and now holds the 19th place.