Despite India falling short in the first Test against England at Headingley, the visitors’ top-order batting stood tall, with Shubman Gill and KL Rahul both breaking into the higher tiers of the latest ICC Test rankings.
Gill’s fluent 147 in the first innings propelled him five spots to 20th among Test batters. Though he scored just eight in the second innings, his commanding first knock reminded cricket fans why he’s considered a future cornerstone of India’s lineup.
Partnering the narrative of resurgence was KL Rahul, who stitched a patient and commanding 137-run innings in the second innings. Combined with his 42 in the first innings, Rahul earned a 10-place leap, landing at 38th in the global rankings.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, already perched at fourth, consolidated his standing with a brisk century on Day 1, despite a second-innings failure. Rishabh Pant also retained his position in the top 10, highlighting a broader consistency in India’s batting ranks.
However, bowling charts painted a dimmer picture for the Men in Blue. Ravindra Jadeja, off-colour in Leeds with only one wicket for 172 runs across 52 overs, slid to 13th. In contrast, Jasprit Bumrah held firm at the summit thanks to his impactful five-wicket haul in the first innings.
For England, Ben Duckett’s match-winning 149 did not go unnoticed—he broke into the top 10 for the first time, claiming the eighth spot with 787 rating points.
As India eyes redemption in the second Test, fans will hope that the batting brilliance is matched by a sharper bowling display.
