Virat Kohli has ended 2019 at the top of the ICC’s test rankings for batsmen. His tally of 928 points puts him well clear of second place Steve Smith of Australia (911), with New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, third with 822 points.
Behind them comes the Australian Marnus Labuschagne, who has scored 1,083 runs in 11 tests this year, overtaking Cheteshwar Pujara in the rankings who slips to fifth. The other Indian batsman to make the top ten was Ajinkya Rahane, who is in joint seventh, with Australia’s David Warner.
In terms of bowlers, the best placed Indian is Jasprit Bumrah, who has 794 points, despite missing the last three months of action whilst he recovers from a back injury. Ravichandran Ashwin (772 points) and Mohammed Shami (771) are, respectively, ninth and tenth.
The world’s top ranked test bowler continues to be Australian Pat Cummins (902 points) who, earlier this month, was bought for a record Rs. 15.5 crore by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2020 IPL auction. He is followed by New Zealand’s Neil Wagner (859), and another pace bowler, South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (832).
As regards all-rounders, two Indians make the top ten, which is headed by Jason Holder of the West Indies. Ravindra Jadeja is second with 406 points, ahead of England’s Ben Stokes, whilst Ashwin is fifth with 308 points.
India also end the decade as the top ranked test team, with a rating of 120. They are followed by New Zealand, South Africa, England, and Australia in that order. Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the West Indies follow them.
As regards ODIs, Kohli once more tops the list with 887 points, followed by his team mate Rohit Sharma, who has 873. And Bumrah leads the way amongst bowlers, with 785 points, with Trent Boult of New Zealand his nearest challenger.
India are the second ranked ODI team, just behind World Cup winners England.
As regards T20Is, the best ranked Indian batsman is KL Rahul, in sixth place, although Sharma and Kohli make the top ten as well. The one area where India are not well represented is the top T20I bowlers, with Washington Sundar, the highest ranked at 14th. And India are only fifth when it comes to the T20I team ratings, with Pakistan, Australia, England and South Africa all ahead of them.
