Virat Kohli’s ICC Rankings Take a Hit After Disappointing Test Series Against New Zealand
Senior Indian batter Virat Kohli has suffered a significant drop in the ICC Test rankings following a lackluster performance against New Zealand. In the newly announced rankings on November 6, 2024, Kohli slid 8 places, now sitting at 22nd in the Test batters’ rankings. His disappointing score of just 93 runs in three Test matches contributed to this decline, marking a rare setback for the star player. Kohli, along with captain Rohit Sharma, was exposed by New Zealand’s off-spinners, who consistently turned the ball away from the Indian batsmen.
India’s historic 3-0 loss to New Zealand at home further compounded Kohli’s woes, as the Black Caps became the first team ever to whitewash India in a Test series on their soil. This defeat was a major upset for Indian cricket, with both Kohli and Rohit failing to make a significant impact during the series. With Kohli’s drop in the rankings, India now has only two batters, Rishabh Pant (6th) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (5th), in the top 10 of the ICC Test batters’ list.
Despite Kohli’s slump, Rishabh Pant, who has been in excellent form since his return, has gained 5 places, moving up to 6th. Shubman Gill, ranked 16th, is the only other Indian batter in the top 20, while Rohit Sharma, having also struggled in the series, dropped to 26th. England’s Joe Root remains at the top of the Test batters’ rankings, followed by New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Harry Brook, with Steve Smith rounding out the top 5.
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