ICC Test Rankings: R Ashwin replaces Jasprit Bumrah as new No. 1 bowler

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became the No. 1 bowler in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Rankings after he replaced Jasprit Bumrah from the numero uno position.

Ashwin reclaimed the top spot that he had held until January 2024 when the rankings were updated on Wednesday, March 13.

Ashwin, who first became No. 1 in ICC Test Rankings in November 2015, was rewarded for his heroics in the recently-concluded 5-Test series against England that India won 4-1. Ashwin picked up 26 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls, across five Tests.

Ashwin started the series slow and had to return home during the 3rd Test due to a family medical emergency. However, the veteran off-spinner put the setbacks behind to make a winning contribution to the team in the last two Tests in Ranchi and Dharamsala.

In his 100th Test in Dharamsala, R Ashwin picked up 9 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings, as India hammered England by an innings and 64 runs. Ashwin also completed the milestone of 500 Test wickets during the 3rd Test in Rajkot, becoming only the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to enter the elite club.

BUMRAH AT NO. 2, KULDEEP GAINS

Jasprit Bumrah dropped to No. 2 in the latest bowling rankings in Tests. He shares the spot with Australia’s Josh Hazlewood. Australia captain Pat Cummins, who led the team to a 2-0 sweep in New Zealand in March, is at the No. 5 spot. Cummins picked up six wickets in 2 Tests as he aced the Trans-Tasman battle along with Hazlewood, who picked up 10 wickets in the series.

Bumrah was exceptional in the Test series. He was rewarded with the No. 1 spot after his reverse-swing masterclass in Vizag. Bumrah finished the series, in which he played only 4 matches, with 19 wickets.

Ravindra Jadeja, meanwhile, remained in the 7th spot. Kuldeep Yadav, who shone in the Test series against England, rose 15 spots to No. 16 in the bowling rankings for Test players. Kuldeep picked up 19 wickets in 4 Tests, playing a key role in India’s victorious run.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma returned to the top 10 in the ICC Batting Rankings after finishing the series with 400 runs, including 2 hundreds. The India captain rose 5 spots to No. 6 while Yashasvi Jaiswal was rewarded for his record-breaking tally of 712 runs, which included two double hundreds, as he moved two spots to No. 8.

Shubman Gill, who overcame a poor start to hit two hundreds, rose 11 spots to No. 20 in the latest chart for Test batters.

ICC TEST BOWLING RANKINGS – AS OF MARCH 13
1. R Ashwin – 870 rating points
2. Josh Hazlewood – 847
2. Jasprit Bumrah – 847
4. Kagiso Rabada – 834 points
5. Pat Cummins – 820 points
6. Nathan Lyon – 801 points
7. Ravindra Jadeja – 788 points
8. Prabath Jayasuriya – 783 points
9. James Anderson – 739 points
10. Shaheen Afridi – 733 points

R Ashwin recalled the roller-coaster of emotions that he experienced during the Test series, revealing how captain Rohit Sharma backed him when he had to rush home midway during the 3rd Test to be with his ailing mother.