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Xtra Time Web Desk: Star India opener Rohit Sharma has overtaken captain Virat Kohli to become the top-ranked Test batter from India. The opener’s scores of 19 and 59 have lifted him one place to a career-best fifth position, seven rating points more than Kohli for an aggregate of 773. The last time someone other than Kohli was the top-ranked India batter was in November 2017, when Cheteshwar Pujara was second and Kohli fifth.

Meanwhile, England captain Joe Root’s sublime form in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series against India has helped him reclaim the top spot for batters in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings after nearly six years.

The 30-year-old had started the series in fifth position but his 507 runs in three Tests have helped him overtake Virat Kohli, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and finally New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, whom he now leads by 15 rating points. Root was second before the Leeds Test, in which he scored 121 in England’s only innings.

Root was last at the number one position in December 2015 before being overtaken by Williamson, with Kohli and Smith also reaching the pinnacle since. The last time someone apart from these four was at the top was South Africa’s AB de Villiers in November 2015.

In the latest update, Pujara has progressed three slots to reach 15^th position after his second innings knock of 91 and is the fourth Indian on the list with Rishabh Pant still ahead of him in 12^th place despite slipping four slots. Jasprit Bumrah has risen among bowlers, from 10^th to ninth.

England’s veteran fast bowler James Anderson has moved back to the top five, his four wickets in the match lifting him one place, while Player of the Match Ollie Robinson has advanced nine places to 36^th after his seven-wicket match haul.