Virat Kohli’s No. 1 rank in danger as Kane Williamson inches closer

Dixit Bhargav | 04/03/2019
Virat Kohli's No. 1 rank in danger

Virat Kohli’s No. 1 rank in danger: New Zealand captain’s recent form has come as a threat to his Indian counterpart.

The latest update in the MRF Tyres ICC Test Rankings has seen New Zealand captain Kane Williamson achieving a career-best 915 rating points. The ever-so-elegant batsman gained a whopping 18 rating points after his 20th Test century against Bangladesh at Hamilton.

In what was a ‘Man of the Match effort’, Williamson ended up scoring his second Test double hundred, 200* (257), with the help of 19 fours. The 28-year old cricketer now has the highest rating points for a New Zealand cricketer surpassing Richard Hadlee (909 points).

Williamson’s rise has come as a significant threat for India captain Virat Kohli whose lead has been reduced to only seven points now. With a couple of Test matches still remaining in the series, Williamson has a fair chance to surpass Kohli from the No. 1 position.

Raval and Latham also make gains

Other than Williamson, New Zealand opening batsman Jeet Raval and Tom Latham also scored individual centuries as they build a 254-run opening stand. Raval, who was the first Kiwi batsman to get out, returned to the pavilion after scoring his maiden Test hundred, 132 (220), with the help of 19 fours and a six.

On the other hand, the more experienced partner in Latham registered his ninth Test century, 161 (248), with the help of 17 fours and three sixes. While Raval jumped five positions to reach No. 33, Latham progressed by a single spot to reach No. 11.

Despite losing by an innings and 52 runs, Bangladesh saw three of their batsmen scoring individual hundreds in the match. Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal scoring 126 (128) with the help of 21 fours and a six in the first innings saw gaining 11 slots to reach No. 25.

Sarkar and Mahmudullah rewarded for their 235-run stand

In the second innings, all-rounder Soumya Sarkar and captain Mahmudullah had stitched a 235-run stand for the fifth wicket. Sarkar, who scored 149 (171) with the help of 21 fours and five sixes, made significant gain as he has jumped from No. 92 to No. 67. Mahmudullah, who scored 146 (229) with the help of 21 fours and three sixes, has reached a career-best No. 40.

Despite registering his eighth Test five-wicket haul in the second innings, left-arm fast bowler Trent Boult witnessed a demotion as he has reached from No. 6 to No. 8. His new-ball opening partner Tim Southee, who picked up six wickets in the match has retained his position at No. 9.

Neil Wagner, who registered his sixth five-wicket haul in the first innings, gained three spots to reach No. 11. Having dismissed Raval in the only over which he bowled, Mahmudullah gained three places to reach No. 63.

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Post Edited By: Jatin Hasija
ICC Test rankings India Kane Williamson Virat Kohli

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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