ICC Test Rankings: Virat Kohli Retains Second Spot, Closes Gap On Top-Ranked Steve Smith

ICC Test Rankings: As per the latest ranking released by the ICC, second-ranked Kohli (888 points) is now just 23 points away from top-ranked Steven Smith (911 points) even after India's horror show in India vs Australia, Adelaide Test.

Virat Kohli and Steve Smith

The ICC released the Test rankings on Sunday after the end of Ind vs Aus Day-Night test at Adelaide. Even though the Indian team has suffered a humiliating defeat in the Pink-ball Test, captain Kohli has gained in the ranking and has also managed to cut down Smith's lead. The No. 1 spot for Test Batsmen in ICC Test Batting Ranking is currently held by Australia's Steven Smith.

As per the latest ranking released by the ICC, second-ranked Kohli (888 points) is now just 23 points away from top-ranked Steven Smith (911 points) even after India's horror show in India vs Australia, Adelaide Test.

Virat Kohli scored 74 runs in the first innings against Australia. In the second innings, he was able to score only four runs and the entire team was bundled up for 36 runs, after which Australia achieved the easy target of 90 runs by losing only two wickets in the second innings and taking a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.

Steve Smith continues to be No. 1 Test batsman but has lost 10 rating points. During the Adelaide Test, Smith dismissed by Ashwin for just one run in the first innings and in the second innings he returned unbeaten for the same score. Tim Paine, who scored an unbeaten 73 in the first innings, has gained tremendously in the rankings. He has reached his career-high 33rd position, before his best ranking came in December 2018, which was 45th.

Virat Kohli gains two points to reduce the gap between him and Steve Smith in the latest @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Player Rankings for batting 🎉

Full list 👉 https://t.co/OMjjVwOboH pic.twitter.com/LbUovKuEf6 — ICC (@ICC) December 20, 2020

After poor outing in Adelaide Test, India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara has dropped a spot to 8th after poor outing in the Adelaide Test. Jasprit Bumrah has slipped to the 10th spot on the bowlers' list.

Marnus Labuschagne (47 and 6), considered the successor of Steve Smith, has also benefited. Opener Joe Burns had scored a fifty in the second innings. He rose to the 48th position. For the first time since 2016, this batsman has entered the top-50 in Test ranking.