ICC Test Rankings: KL Rahul makes huge gain; Shami, Bumrah move up

KL Rahul,
who is leading India in the Johannesburg Test, has jumped 18 places in the
latest ICC Test Rankings for batters to reach 31st position. Rahul was adjudged
Player of the Match in the Centurion Test for his 123.

Also Read: South Africa vs India: van der Dussen’s dismissal sparks controversy in second Test

With the
win in Centurion, India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series which is a
part of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Rahul,
whose best in the format is the eighth position that he attained in November
2017, struck 123 in the first innings and was associated with an important
117-run opening partnership with Mayank Agrawal (60) as India became the first
Asian team to win a Test match at the venue while gaining important points in
the WTC points table.

Also Read: Stand-in skipper KL Rahul scores 50, delivers a lukewarm performance

Agarwal has
gained one place for his contribution, while Ajinkya Rahane is up two places to
25th in the latest update that is carried out on Wednesdays and includes all
matches that are completed by Tuesday each week.

Also Read: Among top 3 pacers: Kohli lauds ‘world class’ Shami after Centurion win

Meanwhile,
fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami are other Indians who made
progress in the ICC bowlers’ rankings. Bumrah was up three spots to ninth after
finishing with five wickets in the match while Shami’s eight wickets, including
a five-for in the first innings, saw him move up two places to 17th.

For South
Africa, captain and opener Dean Elgar has progressed two spots to 14th after a
fighting 77 in the second innings, while Temba Bavuma was up 16 places to 39th
for his scores of 52 and 35 not out.

Also Read: Watching Mohammed Shami bowl reminded me of Pollock and Anderson: Cullinan

Kagiso
Rabada, who grabbed seven scalps, has advanced one place to sixth position
while his fellow fast bowler Lungi Ngidi has gained 16 slots and is 30th on the
list after finishing with eight wickets in the match.

Debutant left-arm
fast bowler Marco Jensen entered the rankings in 97th position.