It was a brilliant series for Rohit Sharma against South Africa. Heading to his favourite position, the flamboyant batsman showed what he capable of doing with the bat. Following the stunning knocks, the right-handed batsman has entered into the top 10 of ICC Test rankings. Meanwhile, Ajnkya Rahane acquired 5th position.
Ajinkya Rahane is placed at 5th:
Rohit Sharma, who was promoted as a Test opener for the first time in this series, made the most of the chance. He scored three centuries in four innings including a career-best 212 in the third Test to finish the series as the highest run-scorer. Rohit Sharma skipped an impressive 12 positions to move into the top ten.
Rohit had attained a career-high 17th spot in the ICC Test rankings for batsman after his twin hundreds in the Vizag Test against South Africa. However, a failure in Pune saw him slip to the 22nd spot. Rohit moved 12 spots to break into the top 10 for the 1st time in his Test career after his maiden Test double hundred in Ranchi.
Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane’s knock of 116 in Ranchi has helped him equal his career-high rank of fifth place, achieved earlier in November 2016. He remains the third-best Indian batsman in terms of Test rankings after Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara.
With Mayank Agarwal in 18th position, India have finished the series with five batsmen in the top 20. Virat Kohli, who made a career 254 not out in the second Test but did not get any other big scores in the series, retained his No.2 spot but fell behind in points. That means Steve Smith is 11 points clear of Kohli at the top of the Test rankings.
Meanwhile, the fast bowlers Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav have ended the series with their highest-ever rating points tally. Shami is on 751 points and only one place below his career-best ranking of 14th achieved in March 2018. Meanwhile, Yadav is on 624 points, three below his best of 21st in July 2016.
Here are the rankings:
| Ranking | Players | Team | Rating Points |
| 1 | Steve Smith | AUS | 936 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | IND | 926 |
| 3 | Kane Williamson | NZ | 878 |
| 4 | Cheteshwar Pujara | IND | 795 |
| 5 | Ajinkya Rahane | IND | 751 |
| 6 | Henry Nicholls | NZ | 749 |
| 7 | Joe Root | ENG | 731 |
| 8 | Tom Latham | NZ | 724 |
| 9 | Dimuth Karunaratne | SL | 723 |
| 10 | Rohit Sharma | IND | 722 |
| Ranking | Players | Team | Rating Points |
| 1 | Pat Cummins | Aus | 908 |
| 2 | Kagiso Rabada | SA | 839 |
| 3 | Jason Holder | WI | 814 |
| 4 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 810 |
| 5 | James Anderson | Eng | 798 |
| 6 | Trent Boult | NZ | 795 |
| 7 | Neil Wagner | NZ | 785 |
| 8 | Vernon Philander | SA | 783 |
| 10 | Kemar Roach | WI | 780 |
| 10 | R Ashwin | IND | 770 |
| Rankings | Players | Team | Rating Points |
| 1 | Jason Holder | WI | 472 |
| 2 | Ravindra Jadeja | IND | 419 |
| 3 | Shakib Al Hasan | BAN | 397 |
| 4 | Ben Stokes | Eng | 387 |
| 5 | Vernon Philander | SA | 315 |