Virat Kohli has risen to the No. 9 position in the ICC Test Rankings, marking his return to the top 10 after nearly two years. His outstanding batting performances in the first match of the series against South Africa have propelled him up the rankings. Kohli scored 38 runs in the first innings and 76 runs in the second innings of the Boxing Day Test, showcasing his exceptional form. Between 2020 and 2022, Kohli struggled to maintain an average of over 40, but he has now accumulated 671 runs in 8 Tests with an impressive average of 54.73, including two centuries.
On the other hand, Rohit Sharma has dropped to the 14th position in the rankings after a disappointing performance in the Boxing Day Test. He scored only 5 runs across two innings, falling victim to South African pacer Kagiso Rabada’s exceptional bowling.
The top 10 in the ICC Test Rankings include Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Steve Smith, Daryl Mitchell, Usman Khawaja, Babar Azam, Marnus Labuschagne, Harry Brook, Virat Kohli, and Travis Head. Babar Azam has slipped to the fifth position in the rankings after a challenging phase in Test cricket.
In the bowling rankings, Jasprit Bumrah has made a comeback after his return to Test cricket, securing the fifth position with 767 points.
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