Kohli has closed down the gap with Steve Smith in the batsmen rankings.
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin once again made a significant gain in ICC Test rankings for bowlers.
Playing his first Test of 2019 earlier this month, Ashwin returned to top 10 after claiming 8 wickets across the two innings in Vizag Test against South Africa.
The Tamil Nadu tweaker jumped another three spots to be placed seventh following his 6 wickets in the second Test against the visiting Proteas side in Pune. Ashwin now has 792 rating points to his name.
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Virat Kohli, who played his career-best knock of 254 not out to script India’s innings and 137-run in the Pune Test, has closed down the gap with Steve Smith in the batsmen rankings.
By hitting his seventh Test double ton, the Indian captain gained 37 points and now has a rating of 936 – which is one less than that of Smith, who continues to occupy the pole position.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara maintained their No.3 and No.4 rankings respectively while New Zealand’s Henry Nicholls stayed at 5.
On the other hand, South African pacer Vernon Philander lost three spots, having scalped just two wickets in the ongoing Test series against India. Philander is now placed at eighth spot.
With 908 rating points to his name, Australia speedster Pat Cummins continues to occupy the top spot in ICC Test bowling rankings followed by Kagiso Rabada (835) and Jasprit Bumrah (818).
As far as the all-rounders list is concerned – West Indies skipper Jason Holder (472 points) has maintained his place at the top while India's Ravindra Jadeja and Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan are at second and third positions respectively.