ICC Test Rankings: Ravichandran Ashwin rises to 7th spot; Virat Kohli two points away from dethroning Steve Smith

India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin has continued his upward rise in ICC Test Rankings since playing in his first international of the match this year.

India offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin has continued his upward rise in ICC Test Rankings since playing in his first international of the match this year in October. Ashwin, who returned to the top-10 following his excellent show in the series opening first Test between India and South Africa in Vizag, has jumped another three spots to be placed seventh in the latest ICC Test rankings for bowlers.

Ashwin finished with match figures of 6/114 from the second Test between India and South Africa that concluded on the fourth day with the hosts winning by an innings and 137 runs on Sunday. The 31-year-old is currently the leading wicket-taker of the three-match series with 14 scalps at 21.64 followed by teammate Ravindra Jadeja (10) and Mohammed Shami (8).

Virat Kohli, who scored a record seventh double-century in India’s first innings, has closed down the gap with top-ranked Steve Smith in the batsmen rankings. Kohli, with his superb unbeaten 254 gained 37 points and now has a rating of 936 – which is one less that the Australian Smith who continues to occupy the top spot.

However, South African Vernon Philander dropped three spots, having managed just two wickets so far on the tour, at 77.50. He’s now a rung below Ashwin at eighth spot. Australia pacer Pat Cummins continues to be the top-ranked Test bowler followed by Kagiso Rabada and Jasprit Bumrah at second and third respectively.

In the list of allrounders, West Indies Jason Holder has retained his place at the top with India’s Ravindra Jadeja and Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh completing the top-three.

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