In the latest MRF Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings, Pakistani and Indian cricket stars have soared to new career heights, intensifying the battle for top positions among batters.
Pakistan showcased a remarkable start to the ICC World Test Championship cycle with an impressive four-wicket triumph against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Emerging as the Player of the Match, Saud Shakeel’s outstanding double century in only his sixth Test appearance propelled him 12 spots up to 15th place on the Test batters rankings, achieving a new personal best rating. However, New Zealand’s veteran Kane Williamson continues to lead the rankings.
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Several other Pakistani players also reached their career-best rankings. All-rounder Agha Salman climbed 17 places to secure the 58th position among batters, while young seamer Naseem Shah (44th place) and inexperienced spinner Abrar Ahmed (equal 45th place) achieved new heights on the Test bowlers list following their stellar performances against Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s spirits were lifted despite their narrow loss at home, as spinner Prabath Jayasuriya climbed seven places to seventh overall on the bowlers’ list after claiming seven wickets in the match.
Meanwhile, India’s in-form seamer Mohammed Siraj emerged as the biggest gainer after his team’s draw in the second Test against the West Indies in Trinidad. Siraj’s impressive performance led to a six-place jump, securing a new career-high rating at 33rd place among bowlers.
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Notably, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal also achieved a personal best of 63 on the batters’ list, rising ten places with his impressive scores of 57 and 38 in just his second Test appearance.
Despite these impressive gains, Kane Williamson continues to lead the rankings for batters. Marnus Labuschagne, the Australian right-hander and former No.1 ranked batter, moved up three places to second overall after his century at Old Trafford. England’s Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Zak Crawley also made significant progress on the rankings.
In the Test bowlers category, England’s Mark Wood and Chris Woakes were the notable climbers from an Ashes perspective, while India’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin maintained his lead, with South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Australia’s captain Pat Cummins in the second and third positions, respectively.
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