Rishabh Pant reaches career-high 7th in ICC Test rankings

By Admin

26 Jun, 2025

India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has scaled new heights in the world of Test cricket, achieving a career-best 7th position in the ICC Test rankings for batters. This remarkable feat, announced on Wednesday (June 25, 2025), comes on the back of Pant’s breathtaking twin centuries in the opening Test of the five-match series against England at Leeds.

Pant, now only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score two centuries in a single match, showcased his class with knocks of 134 and 118. The only other wicketkeeper to have achieved this rare milestone was Zimbabwe legend Andy Flower, until Pant joined him with his stunning show at Headingley. Despite India’s eventual five-wicket loss, Pant’s heroics earned him widespread acclaim and a deserved rise in the global rankings.

Adding to India’s positives from the match, newly appointed Test captain Shubman Gill climbed five places to reach the 20th spot, thanks to his composed century in the first innings. His leadership debut may not have resulted in a win, but his performance with the bat was a shining highlight.

Meanwhile, England's Ben Duckett emerged as a major star of the Test, clinching the Player of the Match award for his innings of 62 and 149. His gritty performances propelled him up five spots to the 8th position in the batter rankings. His teammates also made significant gains   Ollie Pope advanced three places to 19th, and Jamie Smith surged eight spots to 27th after strong batting contributions.

Despite England’s batting dominance, India’s Jasprit Bumrah continued to rule the bowling charts, retaining his No.1 position among Test bowlers after yet another five-wicket haul. Bumrah’s consistency and strike power remain crucial to India’s Test ambitions.

In the all-rounders’ category, England captain Ben Stokes moved up three slots to fifth, showcasing his value with both bat and ball in the match.

Elsewhere in the cricketing world, the drawn first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle saw significant movements. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim climbed 11 places to 28th after his commanding knock of 163, while teammate Najmul Hossain Shanto leaped an impressive 21 places to 29th, courtesy of twin centuries in the match.

As the ICC Test rankings evolve, the rise of emerging stars like Pant, Gill, and Duckett signal an exciting new era for Test cricket, marked by fearless stroke play, resilience, and a renewed hunger to excel at the highest level.