ICC Test Rankings: Virat Kohli Occupies Number One Spot, Topples Steven Smith

The India skipper Virat Kohli is the new rank number one Test batsmen on the ICC Test Rankings. Kohli leapfrogged former Australian skipper, Steven Smith from the top of ICC Test rankings.

Kohli was able to overtake Smith by five points, as he has 934 rating points under his belt. Steven Smith was able to stay at the summit for 32 months.

In fact, Kohli is the first Indian batsman to get to the summit of the Test rankings after Sachin Tendulkar got there in 2011.

Virat Kohli gets to the summit for the first time in Test cricket.

Virat Kohli was able to overhaul Steven Smith after scoring 200 runs in the first Test match against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Thus, Kohli became the seventh India batsmen to get to the numero uno position on the Test rankings.

Consequently, Kohli joined the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Gautam Gambhir, Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and Dilip Vengsarkar.

On the other hand, Sam Curran was the hero for England in the first Test match and made significant gains in the rankings as well. Curran jumped from 152nd place to 72nd spot on the batting table, as he scored a fine 63 to keep England in the hunt when the hosts had their backs against the wall.

Furthermore, the 20-year old Surrey lad was able to jump by 49 places to perch on 62nd rank in the bowling department. Curran had scalped a four-wicket haul in the first innings and was the pick of the England bowlers.

Meanwhile, Jonny Bairstow who scored a fine 70 in the first innings also improved his rankings. The wicketkeeper-batsman now shares the 12th rank with Kraigg Brathwaite after moving four places.

Ravichandran Ashwin also gained 14 points after scalping seven wickets in the first Test.

Here are the top ten batsmen in the ICC Test rankings.