Published 13:53 IST, October 23rd 2019
Rohit Sharma & Rahane storm into top 10 in latest ICC Test rankings
Indian opener Rohit Sharma, who had a dream Test series debut as an opener, stormed into the top ten rankings for batsmen in Tests along with Ajinkya Rahane
Indian opener Rohit Sharma, who had a dream Test series debut as an opener, stormed into the top ten rankings for batsmen in Tests, becoming the third Indian batsman to enter the top ten rankings in the current list. Rohit Sharma was in phenomenal form against South Africa, scoring 529 runs along with his maiden double century in the longer format of the game. Rohit Sharma's recent form has ensured his entry into the top ten Test batsmen, as he jumped 12 places at the end of South Africa's series to seal his place at the tenth spot. Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane has leapfrogged four positions to the fifth place on the rankings after his 116-run knock in the third and final Test at Ranchi. With skipper Virat Kohli at the second position and opener Mayank Agarwal at the 22nd position, India now has five batsmen in the top 20 Test rankings for batsmen. South Africa's George Linde made it to the 104th position on the batsmen rankings and 99th position on the bowler's rankings.
Rohit Sharma, Rahane storm into top 10
Umesh Yadav and Mohammad Shami move up on chart
India's premium Test pacers Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav moved up on the rankings for the bowlers and are now at 15th and 24th spot respectively. Fast bowlers Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav have ended the series with their highest-ever rating points tally. Shami is on 751 points and only one place below his career-best ranking of 14th achieved in March 2018, while Yadav is on 624 points, three below his best of 21st in July 2016.
Virat Kohli credits Rohit Sharma and Rahane
Skipper Virat Kohli feels that no one but Rohit Sharma alone "deserves credit" for overcoming "anxiety and hesitation" while performing commendably in his new role as an opener, giving India enough time to take 20 South African wickets in the 3-0 Test series sweep. Rohit Sharma turned out to be a revelation as an opener with scores of 176 and 127 in the first Test and 212 in the third Test. The team management's stand that he could be a game-changer in the longest format stood vindicated.
"Credit solely goes to the player for the way he overcame his anxiety and hesitation and performed in such a manner that he was adjudged Man-of-the-Series in the first series as an opener. It's been outstanding for him," Kohli was effusive in praise for his white-ball deputy. "There is always anticipation on how would you perform as an opener in Test cricket, as he has been the world's best opener in ODI cricket for a long time. Despite missing close to two sessions because of rain, his pace in the batting gave us so much of time to bowl them out twice," the skipper said.
Updated 14:26 IST, October 23rd 2019