Poor showing against New Zealand has seen Virat Kohli lose number 1 Test spot

The New Zealand tour has turned sour for Team India. Along with it, the captain Virat Kohli is struggling to find his usual finesse, and the lacklustre batting from the ODI series is has carried over into the Test. Although known for one of the present pioneer batsmen of Test cricket, Kohli failed to make a mark in the first Test, scoring only 21 across both innings of the first Test against New Zealand. As a result, the ICC no.1 Test batsman has lost his top spot, dropping to second position.

Thanks to marvellous performance in the South Africa and Bangladesh test series last year, Virat Kohli soared to the top spot in the batting ranking list last December, toppling Steve Smith with 928 ratings. Now, the Aussie superstar with 911 ratings has gone back to top of the ranking list, as Kohli’s ratings are down to 906.

Australia’s last Test was against New Zealand, where Smith scored a marvellous 214 in the first test, including two half centuries. This is the eighth time Smith has regained his no. 1 rank in the last five years.

The Indian batting squad failed massively to rack up a good total against the Kiwis in the test, and Kohli himself, managed to put up a score of 2 and 19 in both innings respectively. With scoring totals of just 165 and 191, the hosts snatched away an easy 10 wicket victory in the second innings, chucking India into their heaviest Test defeat under the captaincy of Kohli at the Basin Reserve cricket ground in Wellington.

Following Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara has also lost two spots, and is down at 9th rank. The specialist Test batsman scored a total of 22 runs in the first Test.

However on the other hand, Mayank Agarwal has joined the top ten list, soaring up to no. 10 in the ranking, which is his career highest. The 29 year old put up an appreciable total of 92 across the two innings, along with a half century in the second one. With a rating of 727, Agarwal is one rank below Pujara.

Ajinkya Rahane gone up to his previous rank at the no. 8 position. The 31 year old veteran middle order batsman scored 75 in the match.

The second Test is to happen at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch this Saturday.

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