ICC Test rankings | Rishabh Pant becomes highest-ranked Indian wicket-keeper in history
Rishabh Pant usurped the likes of legendary MS Dhoni and Farokh Engineer to become the highest-ranked Indian batsman cum wicket-keeper in the recent update of the ICC Test rankings. Meanwhile, man of the series Cheteshwar Pujara entered the top three as he displaced Australia’s Steven Smith.
The Indian cricket team pulled off an absolute world-class victory on Australian soil which cemented their spot at the top of the Test team rankings and showed the world their dominance in the longer format of the game. Virat Kohli led the young squad to a memorable 2-1 win as the Aussies slumped to yet another defeat in what has turned out to be a tumultuous period in Australian cricket ever since the ‘Sandpapergate’ saga last year.
However, one of the major highlights of the recent series win was the emergence of Delhi youngster - Rishabh Pant. Since the retirement of legendary MS Dhoni from Test cricket, Indian selectors have been on the lookout for someone to fill the void left by an exemplary cricketer. While Wriddhiman Saha, Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel tried their best to replicate Dhoni’s form, none seem to fully convince the Indian selectors. Rishabh Pant, however, got a slim chance and grabbed it with both hands.
The Delhi Capitals player was the second highest run-getter for India behind Cheteshwar Pujara in the series against Australia. In doing so, Pant achieved the highest-ever Test batting rating for an Indian wicketkeeper as he moved up to the 17th spot in the latest ICC rankings. Pant’s unbeaten 159 against Australia in Sydney has seen him jump 21 spots and earn 673 rating points, as he usurped Dhoni’s career-best record of 662 points and Farokh Engineer’s mark of 619.
While Indian skipper Virat Kohli did enough to cement his spot as the top-ranked Test batsman in the world, teammate Cheteshwar Pujara who also scored a century at the
Amongst the bowlers, Australian spinner Nathan Lyon moved up one spot to 13th while India’s Jasprit Bumrah held onto the 16th spot. Veteran Bengal pacer Mohammad Shami gained one place to 22nd and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who played the last match at the SCG, jumped seven spots to be ranked at 45.
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