There has been significant movement at the top of the ICC Men’s Test Batter Rankings following crucial victories for New Zealand and Pakistan in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship.
India’s Rishabh Pant has made an impressive comeback to Test cricket, climbing three spots in the latest rankings. His scores of 20 and 99 against New Zealand, in just his third match since recovering from a serious car accident, propelled him past teammate Virat Kohli to sixth place. Pant’s form continues to surge as he establishes himself as one of India’s most formidable batters, according to the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Joe Root of England maintains his commanding position at the top of the rankings. Root’s compatriot, Ben Duckett, is edging closer to breaking into the top 10, rising three places to 11th after a brilliant century (114) against Pakistan. Meanwhile, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal sits at fourth, with Kohli now tied for eighth, joining Pant and Jaiswal as the only Indian players within the top 10.
According to the ICC one of the most notable risers is Pakistan’s Salman Agha, who has leaped eight spots to a career-high 14th. His consistent performances, including scores of 31 and 63 against England, have seen him overtake his compatriots Babar Azam (now tied 19th), Mohammad Rizwan (21st), and Saud Shakeel (27th). With three half-centuries in his last four innings, Salman has emerged as Pakistan’s highest-ranked Test batter.
New Zealand players also made notable advancements on the Test batter rankings. Rachin Ravindra soared 36 places to 18th, while Devon Conway rose 12 spots to 36th. On the bowling side, Matt Henry’s eight-wicket haul against India in Bengaluru catapulted him two spots to ninth, marking a career-high rating. Henry’s teammate, Will O’Rourke, also gained two spots, moving to 39th after taking seven wickets in the same match.
The ICC said for Pakistan, spinner Noman Ali climbed to 17th in the Test bowler rankings, thanks to an 11-wicket haul across two innings against England. Sajid Khan, adjudged Player of the Match in the same contest, made a huge leap of 22 places, reaching 50th.
In the white-ball formats, Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gained ground in the T20I rankings, with Nissanka moving up to eighth and Mendis to 12th. Maheesh Theekshana also rose to third on the T20I bowler rankings, while Wanindu Hasaranga moved up to sixth in both the T20I bowling and all-rounder rankings.
Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka was the biggest mover in the ODI batter rankings, rising two spots to 12th, cementing his position as one of the rising stars of the format.