Test Rankings: Kohli, Ashwin unaffected by heavy defeat

Photo: BCCI

Dubai/New Delhi: The Indian team, which suffered a humiliating defeat to Australia in the first Test at Pune was unaffected by the debacle at least in the ICC rankings. Captain Virat Kohli remained the highest-placed Indian batsman at second, while off-spinner Ravichandaran Ashwin held on to his top position in both the bowlers' and all-rounders' list of the latest ICC Test rankings issued on Sunday.

Opener KL Rahul claimed his career-best ranking of 46th after scores of 64 and 10 in the match.

The Australians, however, made substantial gains with match heroes Steve O'Keefe, Steve Smith and Matt Renshaw attaining significant gains.

Australia Smith reached a career-high 939 rating points after an outstanding batting effort in the Test which his team won by 333 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series, the ICC said in a statement.

Smith has not only consolidated his position at the top of the Rankings for Test Batsmen but has also attained rating points which are the sixth-best ever after Don Bradman (961), Len Hutton (945), Jack Hobbs and Ricky Ponting (both 942) and Peter May (941).

Ashwin remained at the top of the bowlers' rankings with 878 points after taking seven wickets. But his spin partner Ravindra Jadeja now has company at second spot as Josh Hazlewood has caught up with him at 860 points, the Australia pace bowler's career-best.

Australia's left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe has rocketed up 33 slots to a career-best 29th place after figures of 12 for 70 which earned him the player of the match award.

India pace bowler Umesh Yadav's six wickets in the match have seen him gain four slots to reach 30th rank.