The young Indian wicket-keeper, Rishabh Pant has reached the highest-ever Test batting rating for an Indian wicketkeeper, moving up to 17th position in the latest ICC Test rankings. He scored 159* against Australia in Sydney has seen him jump 21 spots and earn 673 rating points, surpassing MS Dhoni’s career-best record of 662 points and Farokh Engineer’s mark of 619. Engineer was also ranked at the 21st position way back in 1973.

Pant only made his Test debut in August last year against England and already has almost 700 runs to his name, including two centuries. The veteran Indian batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara, who also scored a scintillating century at the SCG, has moved up one spot to third on the batting rankings, moving ahead of banned Australian Steve Smith, who has slipped to fourth.

The South African opener Aiden Markram was one of the biggest gainers in the latest rankings, gaining seven positions to reach the 10th spot after his innings of 78 against Pakistan in Cape Town. On the other hand, Australian opener Marcus Harris moved up 21 positions as he reached the 69th spot following his career best of 79 at the SCG.

ALSO READ: Team India’s Victory Dance Was Choreographed By Rishabh Pant

Among the bowlers, the ace Australian spinner Nathan Lyon has moved up one spot to 13th, the Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah remains in 16th, Mohammad Shami gained one place to be 22nd and spinner Kuldeep Yadav jumped seven spots to be 45th.

Spinner Kuldeep Yadav has gained seven positions to reach a career-best 45th position after his figures of 5 for 99 in Australia’s first innings even as Jasprit Bumrah has held on to 16th position and Mohammed Shami has gained one place to take the 22nd slot. Jadeja has gained one place to reach fifth among bowlers and he has surpassed Windies captain Jason Holder into second place among all-rounders.

There has been no change in position or points for India in the ICC Test Team Rankings, while Australia has lost one point but remain in the fifth position.