Kolkata: India’s spin-bowling mainstay Ravindra Jadeja has attained the top spot in the list of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test bowlers rankings after the left-arm spinner bagged a total of nine wickets in the recently concluded match between India and Australia in Ranchi.
Ravichandran Ashwin, on the other hand, struggled to get into his groove claiming just 3 wickets in the entire match which has resulted in him conceding the top spot.
Jadeja’s Saurashtra team mate, Cheteshwar Pujara’s 202 against the Aussies in Ranchi also didn’t go unnoticed. The steady batsman to a career-best second place on the table with 861 points. Pujara overtake his skipper, Virat Kohli’s who’s struggles with the bat have seen him drop another 21 rating points as he remained fourth on the table.
Jadeja, who grabbed five for 124 and four for 52 in Ranchi, has gained 7 points after starting joint-first with Ashwin at 892 points. The left-arm spinner has become only the 3rd India player after Ashwin and Bishan Singh Bedi to top the bowling charts on his own. Jadeja has also closed in on another major landmark as his tally of 899 rating points puts him on the brink of becoming only the second India bowler after Ashwin to touch the 900-point mark.
Kohli has seen a slump in form in the first three Tests scoring just a paltry 46 runs coming in the five innings he played at an average of only 9.20. His counterpart, Steve Smith meanwhile consolidated his place at the top of the rankings with scores of 178* and 21 in Ranchi. The Australian captain has now further extended his lead and sits pretty on the top of the table with 941 points to his name.
However, India will hold on to their position at the top of the rankings at the April 1 deadline for a cash award of $1 million. Australia and South Africa, on the other hand, have a chance to take over the second position. If Smith’s men at least draw the upcoming Dharamsala Test, they will finish at No. 2. South Africa can take over if Australia lose, and they either draw or win the Hamilton Test against New Zealand. The team that finishes second will be awarded $500,000 and the third-placed team will get $200,000.
Top 10 batsmen
Steve Smith- 941 points
Cheteshwar Pujara- 861 points
Joe Root – 848 points
Virat Kohli- 826 points
Kane Williamson- 823 points
Azhar Ali- 779 points
Younus Khan- 772 points
David Warner- 768 points
Hashim Amla- 759 points
Quinton de Kock- 758 points
Top 10 bowlers
Ravindra Jadeja – 899 points
R Ashwin – 862 points
Rangana Herath – 854 points
Josh Hazlewood – 842 points
James Anderson – 810 points
Stuart Broad – 803 points
Dale Steyn – 803 points
Kagiso Rabada – 802 points
Vernon Philander – 767 points
Neil Wagner – 762 points
(With inputs from NDTV)