Virat Kohli has lost the top spot in the Test batting rankings of the International Cricket Council (ICC) by scoring just 21 runs during India's 10-wicket defeat in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington. Kohli is second with 906 points. Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Mayank Agarwal are ranked eighth, ninth and 10th respectively in this list.
Rahane, who scored 75 runs in the first Test, has gained one place. Agarwal has returned to his career-best rankings by scoring 92 runs including a half-century in the second innings. Pujara has slipped two places after scoring 11–11 in both innings.
Australia's Steve Smith has once again reached the top due to the departure of Kohli. Smith, who became the world's number one Test batsman for the first time in June 2015, reached the top for the eighth time. Apart from Smith and Kohli, the last time Kane Williamson became the world's number one batsman for eight days in December 2015.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who took three wickets for 99 runs in the first innings against New Zealand, is ranked ninth after losing one place in the bowling list. He is the only Indian bowler in the top 10 with 765 points. Fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who took five wickets in the first Test, returned after the injury, is ranked 17th by gaining one place.
New Zealand fast bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult have gained a lot in the rankings, taking nine and five wickets respectively in the first Test against India. Southee has gained eight places to reach number six. This is Southee's best ranking after a career-best fifth ranking in June 2014. Bolt is in joint 13th position with the advantage of four places.
In the list of all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin are at the third and fifth positions respectively. Jadeja did not play in the first Test while Ashwin, who played zero and four runs, has lost one place. In the ICC World Test Championship, India remains on top with 360 points while Australia are in second place with 296 points. New Zealand has 120 points, scoring 60 points from a win in Wellington.
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