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Indian captain Rohit Sharma has encountered a notable decline in the latest ICC Test batting rankings, falling to his lowest position since December 2018. As per the rankings released on October 30, the reshuffle saw considerable movements among players, but Rohit’s drop was particularly striking.
Rohit Sharma’s ranking decline alongside Virat Kohli
Initially ranked 15th just a week prior, he has plummeted nine places to now sit at 24th. This sharp decline underscores not only his personal struggles but also raises concerns about the overall batting performance of the Indian team during critical matches, especially as they prepare for upcoming series.
Rohit’s downturn is mirrored by the performances of his teammates, who also experienced setbacks in their rankings. Virat Kohli, a stalwart of Indian cricket, has dropped six spots to now occupy 14th place. Similarly, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant fell five positions to 11th. This collective drop within the Indian batting lineup highlights a concerning trend where multiple key players are underperforming simultaneously. Rohit’s current ranking of 24th is particularly alarming, marking the lowest point since he was placed 44th in the ICC rankings after a disappointing performance in the Melbourne Test against Australia in December 2018.
Poor recent form in Test cricket
Currently, Rohit’s rating stands at 649, which is his lowest since February 2021, when he had dropped to 626. This decline has been exacerbated by a series of underwhelming performances in recent matches. In the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand, Rohit managed to score only 2 and 52, followed by dismal scores of 0 and 8 in the Pune Test. These lackluster innings contributed significantly to India’s unexpected defeats in both matches, marking their first home Test series loss in over a decade. The implications of this slump are considerable, especially as India prepares for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT), where Rohit will need to rediscover his form to lead effectively.
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Jasprit Bumrah loses his position as the top bowler
The latest ICC update also revealed significant changes in the bowlers’ rankings. Jasprit Bumrah, who has long held the prestigious No. 1 position among bowlers, has now been surpassed by South Africa‘s Kagiso Rabada. Rabada’s ascent to the top comes on the heels of an impressive nine-wicket haul against Bangladesh, which was instrumental in South Africa’s victory. His exceptional performance propelled him past Bumrah, who, alongside fellow Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, dropped to third and fourth places, respectively. This shake-up in the rankings highlights the competitive nature of international cricket, as players consistently vie for the top spots.
Joe Root maintains supremacy in batting chart
The ICC update also highlighted England’s Joe Root, who continues to maintain his lead at the top of the batting rankings, despite facing challenges during a recent Test series against Pakistan. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz has made notable progress, climbing two places to reach third in the all-rounders rankings.
Amid these changes, several players have made significant gains in the rankings. Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel has soared 20 places to secure the 7th position, marking a pivotal moment in his career. Additionally, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra climbed eight spots to break into the top ten for the first time, reaching 10th place after impressive performances. India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal also made headlines by regaining his spot at third after a blistering innings of 77 runs off just 65 balls in the second Test against New Zealand.
