Rishabh Pant surges to career-best number five, Virat Kohli drops out of top-10 in ICC Test rankings

06.07.2022 - 14:01 timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Virat Kohli dropped out of top-10 for the first time in six years. Pant's meteoric rise in the rankings comes after his heroics in the recently-held Covid-delayed fifth Test between India and England in which he scored 146 and 57 across two innings.

It is worth mentioning that Pant scored two tons and three half centuries in his last six Test innings. However, former India skipper Kohli dropped four places to 13th in the batting rankings, thanks to a prolonged lean run.

Interestingly, it is for the first time in six years that Kohli has found himself out of top 10 in the Test rankings. Current Indian captain Rohit Sharma, who missed the Edgbaston Test after testing positive for Covid-19, also dropped one place in the rankings.

England batter Joe Root, who reigned supreme at Edgbaston with a sublime 142 in England's second innings, consolidated his position at the top of the rankings with 923 points, with Australians Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith taking the second and third positions respectively.

cycling Career FIVE Test Joe Root Jonny Bairstow Steve Smith Rohit Sharma Australia India

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Virat Kohli, who is struggling to get back to form, has found support from his teammates. Just like India skipper Rohit Sharma, swashbuckling batter Dinesh Karthik has also come out in Kohli's support. "Virat has experienced insane success over the period of time. Now he will get a good break and will come back all recharged and hopefully will do phenomenally well. You can never rule out a player of his calibre," Karthik said on the sidelines of a training session with the budding cricketers at the PS Sports Excellence Arena here on Monday. Kohli has been rested for the West Indies tour which will begin on July 22.

"No Selector Born In India Yet Who Can Drop Virat Kohli": Former Pakistan Captain

Virat Kohli's lean patch with the bat continued on Thursday as the player was dismissed for a 25-ball 16 against England in the second ODI at Lord's, London. Chasing a delivery from David Willey outside off stump, Kohli edged the good length ball to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler. It is worth noting that Kohli, who has failed to take his innings deep in the past few matches, had missed the first ODI vs England due to a groin strain. He returned to the squad for the second game but that couldn't change his fortunes as England bowlers outfoxed him once again in the ongoing tour.

'This too shall pass': Pakistan skipper Babar Azam backs out-of-form Virat Kohli

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has come out in support of star Indian batter Virat Kohli after the latter's poor run of form. Babar took to his Twitter account and wrote, "This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli," along with a photo of him and Kohli. After missing the first ODI against England with a groin injury, Kohli made just 16 in the second match, which India lost by 100 runs at Lord's.

Watch: Lord's Cricket Ground Shares Video Of Virat Kohli Walking Out To Bat In Second ODI vs England

Team India on Thursday lost the second ODI of the three-match series to England by 100 runs at Lord's in London. It was a collective bating failure for the visitors but the form of Virat Kohli once again became the talk of the town. The right-handed batter scored 16 runs off 25 balls before losing his wicket to David Willey at a crucial juncture in the game. Kohli had come out to bat in the third over as Reece Topley had provided England an early breakthrough by dismissing Rohit Shama for a 10-ball duck.

2nd ODI: Reece Topley's career-best 6/24 sends India hurtling to 100-run defeat

England's superb comeback, after being hammered in the opener, has helped them tie the score 1-1 and set up an exciting finale, with the ODI series decider to be played on July 17 at Old Trafford. AS IT HAPPENEDLike England saw their batting implode in the first ODI, India too suffered a horrible top-order collapse which saw them crash to 31 for four in the 12th over. Chasing 247, the visitors folded for 146 in 38. 5 overs. Making things difficult for India with his high point of release due to his tall frame, Topley sent back both India's openers, skipper Rohit Sharma (0 off 10 balls) and Shikhar Dhawan (9 off 26 balls), before getting the in-form Suryakumar (27 off 29 balls), Shami (23), Chahal (3) and Krishna (0). Brydon Carse dismissed Rishabh Pant (0, 5b) and David Willey took out an out-of-form former captain Virat Kohli (16, 25b, 3x4) as England's pacers breathed fire on a pitch which had a bit of extra bounce. Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya each scored 29 off 44 balls, but both perished to England's spinners. While Pandya holed out to deep mid-wicket off Moeen Ali, Jadeja played all over a simple delivery from Liam Livingstone.