Jasprit Bumrah Achieves Historic Feat as India’s Highest-Ranked Test Bowler in ICC Rankings
New Delhi [India], January 1 — Indian pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah has set a new benchmark in Indian cricket history by becoming the highest-ranked Indian Test bowler ever in the ICC rankings. With an impressive 907 rating points, Bumrah has surpassed Ravichandran Ashwin’s previous record of 904 points. This achievement places him joint-17th in the all-time list, alongside England’s legendary Derek Underwood.
Bumrah’s stellar performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series has been instrumental in this accomplishment. His nine-wicket haul during the MCG Test against Australia has further solidified his position as the No. 1 Test bowler in the ICC rankings. This consistent excellence has seen him maintain his dominance at the top.
Other Movers in the ICC Test Bowling Rankings
Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins also made significant strides, gaining 15 rating points after his six-wicket haul in the Boxing Day Test. This performance elevated him to third place in the bowling rankings. Additionally, Cummins’ contributions with the bat—scoring 90 vital runs—secured him the third spot in the ICC Test All-Rounder Rankings.
South Africa’s Marco Jansen also saw remarkable progress. His seven-wicket performance in the Centurion Boxing Day Test against Pakistan catapulted him six places to the fifth position in the bowling rankings, marking his first entry beyond 800 rating points.
Test Batting Rankings See Shifts
Several batters made notable gains in the ICC Test Batting Rankings. South Africa’s Aiden Markram returned to the top 20 after his gritty knocks of 89 and 37 against Pakistan, which also secured South Africa’s spot in the ICC Test Championship final. Meanwhile, India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal climbed to a career-best fourth place, reflecting his consistent performance. Australia’s Steve Smith and Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel also advanced, moving up to seventh and sixth positions, respectively. India’s Nitish Kumar Reddy made a significant leap, climbing 20 places to rank 53rd.
Records and Resurgence in Zimbabwe-Afghanistan Test
The Zimbabwe-Afghanistan Boxing Day Test witnessed a flurry of batting milestones, with six centuries being scored. Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi made history by recording the highest-ever Test scores for their nation. Their remarkable performances elevated them to 52nd and 57th positions in the rankings, respectively. For Zimbabwe, Sean Williams broke into the top 20 with 653 rating points—the best for a Zimbabwean batter since Brendan Taylor in 2014. Craig Ervine and Brian Bennett also made gains, with Bennett entering the top 100 bowlers after securing his maiden five-wicket haul.
T20I Rankings Update
Performers in the ongoing T20I series between New Zealand and Sri Lanka have also seen upward movements. Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka edged closer to the top five batters, while New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner broke into the top 10 bowlers with his consistent performances.
This latest update to the ICC rankings reflects the dynamic nature of international cricket, highlighting the exceptional talents making their mark across formats and series worldwide.
