India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has risen to the top of the ICC Test rankings for bowlers, overtaking England’s James Anderson. Anderson had recently ended Pat Cummins’ four-year streak at the top of the rankings after his impressive performance in the first pink ball Test against New Zealand.
However, Ashwin’s six-wicket haul in India’s win over Australia in February 2022 has helped him climb to the top with a total of 864 points.
Ashwin’s rise to the summit marks a moment of glory for the off-spinner, who has been a constant threat to opposition batters in subcontinent conditions. He also recently achieved the milestone of taking 450 Test wickets with the red ball during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja, Ashwin’s teammate, continues to dominate the ICC Test rankings for all-rounders, with a comfortable lead of 460 points. Jadeja has also risen to the eighth spot in the Test rankings for bowlers after his exceptional performance against Australia in Delhi, where he claimed 10 wickets, including career-best figures of 7-42.
Ashwin’s highest point in his career came during the home series against England in 2016, where he had a personal best rating of 904 points, making him not only the No.1 Test bowler but also the highest-ever rated Indian bowler. With two more Tests on home turf remaining, Ashwin is expected to hold onto his top spot for a while.