Pujara achieves career-best Test rank as Kohli slips

Dubai, Sep 2: India's Cheteshwar Pujara has entered the top-20 of ICC Test Rankings for the first time while captain Virat Kohli slipped one place after the conclusion of the series against Sri Lanka.

Kohli creates history in Colombo

India defeated Sri Lanka by 117 runs in the 3rd and final Test at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) ground yesterday (September 1) for a historic 2-1 series win. Pujara had scored an unbeaten 145 in the first innings, carrying his bat.

The 27-year-old Pujara, who made a comeback to the Test side in Colombo, has now gained 4 places in the latest Test rankings to reach 20th.

"Cheteshwar Pujara has broken into the top 20 of the ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen for the first time in his career," ICC said in a media release today.

"Pujara is now the second India batsman to feature in the top 20, but following Virat Kohli's drop to 11th (down by one place), the fifth-ranked side has no batsman inside the top 10," it added.

Other Indians to move up were, Rohit Sharma by two places to 48th, R Ashwin by 5 places to 50th. Amit Mishra, who scored 59 in the first innings and featured in a 104-run 8th wicket partnership with Pujara, has vaulted 56 places to 91st.

In the bowling list, Ishant Sharma, who claimed his 200th Test wicket yesterday, has jumped 3 places to be at 18th. His fast bowling partner Umesh Yadav is at 42nd and Mishra is positioned at a career-high of 37.

OneIndia News