ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant beats MS Dhoni

Rishabh Pant has scaled new heights in the latest ICC Test Rankings for batsmen to become the joint-highest ranked wicketkeeper batsman from India while also reaching highest rating points by a keeper  from the country.

Pant has risen 21 slots and reached 17th place in the rankings refreshed after India’s series win against Australia. The 17th rank is the joint-highest by a specialist India wicketkeeper along with Farokh Engineer, who did so in January 1973.

Additionally, Pant’s aggregate of 673 rating points are the highest by an India wicketkeeper, with Dhoni having the next best aggregate of 662 points and Engineer 619 points. Dhoni’s highest Test ranking was 19th.

Pant who announced himself with an 18-ball 50 at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2016, has moved into the top-20 in only his ninth Test match with an unbeaten 159 at Sydney Cricket Ground. Pant had started the Australia tour in 59th place and made rapid progress, scoring 350 runs in a series that also saw him take 20 catches.

The top scorer from the series – Cheteshwar Pujara, who amassed 521 runs and claimed the Player of the Series award – is another batsman to gain in the latest rankings update. The rankings also take into account performances in the second Test between South Africa and Pakistan in Cape Town which the Proteas won by 9 wickets.

Pujara has earned one place up in the rankings to reach third position while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (up six places to 57th) and opener Mayank Agarwal (up five places to 62nd) are others from the Indian team to advance at the end of a historic series win.