India’s Shubman Gill has made headlines by leaping to a career-best sixth spot in the ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings.
The stylish right-hander’s breathtaking knocks of 269 and 161 against England in Birmingham etched his name into history, making him only the second player ever to score above 150 in both innings of a Test match. With 430 runs across two innings, Gill now holds the second-highest run aggregate in a single Test.
The dramatic shift in rankings didn’t end there. England’s Harry Brook, who notched a commanding 158 in the same match, returned to the summit as the world’s No. 1 Test batter. Brook displaced teammate Joe Root, who slipped to second, losing 18 rating points.
Gill’s ascendancy is particularly impressive, having entered the series ranked 23rd. His performances have not only revitalised India’s top order but also earned praise from cricketing greats like Sachin Tendulkar.
Other notable movers include Ravindra Jadeja, who advanced to 39th after resilient innings of 89 and 69, and England’s Jamie Smith, who stormed into the top 10 with scores of 184 and 88.
On the bowling front, Mohammad Siraj (up to 22nd) and Akash Deep (45th) made significant strides after five-wicket hauls in the same match. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder impressed with an unbeaten 367 against Zimbabwe and jumped to 22nd among batters and 3rd among all-rounders.
With the rankings in flux and fresh faces breaking through, the Test arena looks more competitive than ever—and Gill’s meteoric rise signals that Indian cricket’s future is in inspiring hands.
