ICC Test batsmen rankings: Virat Kohli reclaims top spot from Australia's Steve Smith

Indian skipper Virat Kohli on Wednesday got back to the top spot of the ICC Test batsmen rankings, taking a five points lead over Australia’s Steve Smith, after a significant century in India’s first ever pink ball Test match against Bangladesh last month.

The Indian skipper, who had lost his top spot after Steve Smith’s phenomenal display with the bat on return to Test cricket during the Ashes, benefitted from his foe’s recent performance against Pakistan.

Virat Kohli, who had knocked 136 runs in the recently concluded day-night Test againt Bangladesh to reach 928 points, is now five points ahead as Smith’s innings of 36 runs in the Adelaide Test against Pakistan saw the latter drop to 923 points from 931 before the match.

Team India, who have taken a colossal lead on top of the ICC World Test Championship table, will next go face to face against New Zealand in a Test series in February 2020. Steve Smith, who will be featuring for the Aussies in the upcoming home series against the Kiwis , will have an opportunity to dethrone the Indian skipper.

Australia’s David Warner’s brilliant 335 not out has taken him to fifth spot while Marnus Labuschagne is in the top ten for the first time after being positioned as low as 110th at the beginning of the year.

Pakistan batsman Babar Azam has moved up two places to 13th, all thanks to his aspiring knock of 97 runs in the first innings, while opener Shan Masood has gained 10 places to reach a career best 47th spot after knocking 68 runs in the second innings.

England skipper Joe Root is also back in the top 10, after his knock of 226 runs, taking him to 7th spot from 11th. New Zealand’s Ross Taylor has also gained two spots to reach 16th spot.

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