Rohit Sharma overtakes Virat Kohli as India's top-ranked Test cricket batter

Rohit Sharma has overtaken Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli to become the top-ranked Test batter from India in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings.

The opening batsman’s scores of 19 and 59 have lifted him one place to a career-best fifth position, seven rating points more than Kohli for an aggregate of 773. The right-hander has showcased stunning form in the ongoing India versus England Test series, and has also efficiently climbed up in the prestigious rankings.

Rohit Sharma currently occupies fifth place in the rankings with 773 points to his name. Virat Kohli is stationed at the sixth spot with 766 points. England's Test skipper Joe Root, who is in sublime form in the ongoing Test series against India, tops the list with 901 points. The 30-year-old had started the series in the fifth position but his 507 runs in three Tests has helped him overtake Kohli, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and finally, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, whom he now leads by 15 rating points. Root was second before the Leeds Test, in which he scored 121 in England's only innings.

The last time someone other than Kohli was the top-ranked India batter was in November 2017, when Cheteshwar Pujara was second and Kohli fifth.

The India versus England cricket Test series now stands level at one-all, with a lot resting on the fourth Test in the five-match series at the Kia Oval cricket ground in London, starting on September 2.

(ANI)