As per the latest updates released by the cricket’s governing body on Wednesday, February 21, India has emerged as the clear leader in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have risen through the ranks, while Jasprit Bumrah has remained at the top.
Jadeja is currently ranked sixth among Test bowlers, having moved up three spots. The news was released immediately following Jadeja’s performance that won the Rajkot Test match against England. In addition to taking seven wickets against Ben Stokes’ team during the match, Jadeja also scored a century. With the aid of his performance, India defeated England by a massive 434 runs.
However, India’s best spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, moved up one position to take second place, directly behind Jasprit Bumrah. Being just the second player in Indian cricket history to reach 500 Test wickets, Ashwin recently accomplished the incredible feat.
Sadly, Ashwin was forced to withdraw during the Rajkot Test; however, he returned to the Indian team a day later. Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Siraj decimated the English team while Ashwin was absent.
Kagiso Rabada of South Africa is currently ranked third in the top 10, with Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood of Australia occupying positions three and four. Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka is ranked seventh. While Nathan Lyon remains at number nine, James Anderson has fallen one spot to number eight, and Kyle Jamieson has moved down two spots to number ten on the list.
When Australia plays New Zealand in a two-match Test series next month, more adjustments to the ICC rankings are anticipated. There should be a lot of exciting action in the trans-Tasman rivalry. Additionally, it will be the last international match that both teams play in before the 2024 T20 World Cup.