ICC Rankings: Virat Kohli moves into the Top 5 for the first time, Mohammad Shami jumps five places

Courtesy his stupendous batting showing in the Vizag Test against England, Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli has jumped to a career-best ranking of Number 4 for Test batsman in the latest ICC rankings released here on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old gained 97 points for his performance in the game, thereby shooting up a whopping 10 places to go into the Top 10 list. Despite his team's dismal showing against South Africa, Australian skipper Steve Smith stayed on top of the list, followed by England mainstay Joe Root at Number 2 and New Zealand captain Kane Williamson at Number 3.

Chesteshwar Pujara, who also scored a ton in the Vizag Test, jumped one place to Number 9 in the rankings. Fast bowler Mohammad Shami jumped five places in the rankings to Number 21, which is now the highest that he has reached during his career and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also moved up a place to Number six in the Bowler’s rankings. Ravichandran Ashwin maintained his pole position on top of the bowler’s list.

England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow also a rise up the ladder, going to the 12^th spot, as did Ben Stokes, who rose to 34^th in the list. Ajinkya Rahane, who has thus far had a poor outing in the England series, found himself just outside the Top 10 at the 11^th position while Rohit Sharma, currently recovering from injury was at the 41^st position.

England Test captain Alastair Cook rounded off the Top 10 list for Test batsman while Vernon Philander rounded off the Top 10 in the Test bowlers table.

With three more Tests to go in the series, Kohli has a very good chance of upscaling Williamson and go even higher in the table. The difference between the two at the moment is a mere 16 points and if the latter has a poor outing in the second Test against Pakistan and the former racks up another big score in Mohali, then he may have a new career-high ranking as early as next week.

James Anderson, who made a comeback in the Vizag Test, will also look to go past his fellow modern fast bowling great Dale Steyn, with a fine performance in the Mohali Test. The former trails the latter by just two points in the Bowler’s rankings and with Steyn expected to be out of action at least until mid-2017, Anderson can certainly keep his place in the Top 3 with some consistent showing.