ICC Test rankings: Joe Root becomes No 1 batsman in the world, Rohit Sharma surpasses Virat Kohli

England skipper Joe Root has jumped three places to become the No 1 batsman in the world in ICC men’s Test rankings. Root continued his magnificent form in the Test matches this year and the series in the third game at his home ground in Leeds as he notched up his 23rd century in Test matches.

Root has now just one less point than his career-best ratings of 917 as he leapfrogged New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to reach the top of the pile after his innings of 121 runs. Not just Root, Team India opener Rohit Sharma also made progress and is now the highest-ranked Indian batsman overtaking Virat Kohli, in the fifth place.

Rohit with scores of 19 and 59, now has 773 rating points, seven more than skipper Virat Kohli, who slipped one more place to the sixth position. This is the first time since 2017, that an Indian batsman not named Virat Kohli is the highest-ranked from his country in Test rankings.

Apart from Rohit, Pujara riding on his 91-run knock in the second innings in the third Test has moved up three places to the 15th spot while Rishabh Pant slipped four places to move out of the top 10 to the 12th place.

Amongst bowlers, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah moved up by one place to the ninth position but it was the ‘Player of the Match’ Ollie Robinson, who made significant progress. Owing to his seven wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings, Robinson moved up by nine places to 36th position while tall pacer Craig Overton re-entered the rankings at 73rd place.

The veteran James Anderson after his four wickets in the match has entered the top five having moved one place up and has 813 rating points against his name.

Other changes in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings for the week:

 Rohit Sharma overtakes Virat Kohli  James Anderson enters top five

Details https://t.co/woGyneJVGk pic.twitter.com/9mFl314BS8

— ICC (@ICC) September 1, 2021

England and India will now lock horns in the fourth Test at the Oval, London starting Thursday, September 2.