Rohit, Saha move up in Test rankings

  Dubai: India's Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who set up the team's thumping 178-run win in the second Test against New Zealand at Kolkata, made rapid strides in their respective International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, which were released here on Tuesday. Stumper Wriddhiman, who scored half centuries in both the innings of the Test rose 18 spots to be positioned at No.56 in the ICC rankings for batsmen. His teammate Rohit, who rescued India's second innings with a brilliant 82, gained 14 spots to find himself at the No.38 spot. In addition, middle order bat Cheteshwar Pujara, who remains the highest scorer so far in the series, also gained a spot to be placed at No.15. However, opener Murali Vijay slipped five spots to be No.21 after a poor outing in both the Tests against the Kiwis. Among others, New Zealand's Luke Ronchi and Tom Latham gained 12 and three places respectively to be placed at No.40 and 33, while B.J. Watling, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson slipped in their rankings. Australia skipper Steve Smith continues to lead the batsmen's list followed by England's Joe Root, who rose one spot to unsettle Williamson. In the bowler's list, medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who claimed his maiden five-wicket haul at home to guide India to an emphatic victory in the second Test, gained nine places to be placed at No.26 while his new ball partner Mohammed Shami also rose two spots to occupy the 23rd spot. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also gained one spot to be spotted at No.6 while his spin partner Ravichandran Ashwin slipped one place to find himself at No.3. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry took giant leaps in the rankings chart gaining 16 spots to be placed at No.61 while his new ball partner Trent Boult exchanged places with his teammate Neil Wagner to take the No.9 and No.10 spots respectively. South African veteran Dale Steyn continues to lead the bowler's list with England's James Anderson exchanging spots with Ashwin at the second and third spots respectively. Among all-rounders, Jadeja slipped one place to No.4 with Ashwin continuing to lead the chart.