India's in-form all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has become the no.1 all-rounder in Test rankings after a stupendous performance against Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-Test series in Mohali. Jadeja rose from third spot to top as he went past fellow teammate Ravichandran Ashwin and Jason Holder on the list.
The southpaw now has 406 rating points, 24 more than the Caribbean all-rounder who is currently playing England in the Test series at home.
"Ravindra Jadeja's performance at India's recent Test win against Sri Lanka in Mohali has catapulted him to the no. 1 position in the MRF Tyres ICC Men's Test Player Rankings," the ICC said in a statement.
Not just in all-rounder rankings, Jadeja's record-breaking unbeaten 175 at no.7 position helped him climb 17 places in the batters’ rankings. The southpaw is currently ranked 37th in the batting department. The Suarashtra-born left-arm spinner also got nine wickets which includes a five-wicket haul in the first innings. In the bowlers; rankings, he has now occupied the 17th spot.
The last time Jadeja rose to the top was in August 2017. However, he was dethroned in a week. No.2 ranked Holder got a couple of wickets on Day 1 of the Test against England. He will have a chance to rise to the top again. On the other hand, Jadeja will make another appearance donning the whites in the pink-ball Test starting March 12 (Saturday).
Jadeja missed getting another record to his name by just one wicket. In the post-match presentation, Ashwin revealed that Jadeja sacrificed his overs in the second innings to give Jayant Yadav a go against the inexperienced and struggling Sri Lankan batting lineup. Jadeja would have become the first Indian cricketer to score a century and take 10 wickets in a single Test. Only four all-rounders have managed to do so in the history.
Earlier Jadeja also missed his maiden Test double century. New Test skipper Rohit Sharma revealed that he had sent 12th man Kuldeep Yadav to send the message to get to the double ton in a few overs. Instead, Jadeja suggested that India declare now and ask tired Sri Lankan batters to face Indian bowlers on a pitch that was starting to assist spinners.
