Indian star Ravichandran Ashwin’s stupendous performance against New Zealand has helped him to regain world number 1 position in ICC Test rankings. He has attained best rating points in his career and is among the few players to have got 900 points. He went past James Anderson and Dale Steyn to attain the top position. Not only this, he is also the number one all-rounder in the world.
R Ashwin was at number three before the Third Test match against New Zealand. He, however, performed incredibly to climb the ladder. Ashwin took 13 wickets in the Test with career-best 7 wickets for 140 in second innings. Ashwin in all took 27 wickets in the series. He was adjudged the man of the match and the man of the series.
In the first Test match, Ashwin had become the fastest Indian to take 200 wickets in Test matches. He also became the second fastest in the world to do so. After the third Test, a new record has been added to his credits. The bowler has become the highest wicket taker in 39 Test matches. He has 220 wickets in his kitty. Out of the 220, 153 are on Indian soil.
Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane has also attained his best ranking after scoring a fighting 188 runs against New Zealand. Rahane is perched 6th on the ICC Test rankings list. Before the last Test, he was at number 11. He has been performing well this year. He is ahead of Cheteshwar Pujara and captain Virat Kohli, who are 14th and 16th respectively. Ravindra Jadeja is the third best all-rounder in the world.
India had toppled Pakistan from top Test spot. And, they have got the trophy, finally. Indian captain Virat Kohli expressed happiness at the moment as he was being presented with the ICC Test Championship mace.
“It’s an honour and a moment of great pride to receive the ICC Test Championship mace. To be recognised as the best in the traditional form of the game is as good as it gets for any team and stuff that dreams are made of,” IANS quoted Kohli after batting legend Sunil Gavaskar presented ICC Test championship mace to him.
This was the third time India rose to number 1 rankings after Virat Kohli took over as captain. He is the second captain after Mahendra Singh Dhoni to have been presented with the ICC championship mace. He is the 10th in the world to receive the mace.
The ceremony happened after India won the Test match in Indore with 321 runs. India have also won the series 3-0. Gavaskar presented the mace after presentation ceremony.
Indian captain Virat Kohli had tweeted after the match. He said it was a memorable moment with brothers. He said he was proud of the champions. The longest India remained on the top of Test rankings was in Dhoni’s tenure. India remained at the top from November 2009 to August 2011. India was on the top for some time in January and February.
