India vs South Africa: Virat Kohli could topple Steve Smith and regain No.1 spot as Test batsmen

Virat Kohli is looking to topple the Aussie run machine Steve Smith and regain the top spot in the international batting rankings as India look to whitewash South Africa in the third and final Test starting Saturday.

Kohli’s career-best 254 in India’s second successive win has got him just a point away of Smith in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test ranking chart.

Kohli is at 936 rating points while Steve Smith sits at the top with 937 points.

Smith - after returning back from serving his ban - replaced Kohli at number one spot last month. His blazing Ashes series against England got him his old position back. 

The Indian skipper had made a golden duck against the West Indies but regained lost ground against the struggling South Africans. He joined England great Wally Hammond and Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene as he registered his seventh Test double century.

Kohli also went past Don Bradman’s tally of 6,996 runs in 52 Tests. The victory against the Proteas led India to register their record 11th straight Test triumph at home. Australia had two streaks of 10 wins in a row.

“I’m just happy to be where I am. Putting the team in a commanding position is the only thing I strive for,” Kohli, who tops the ODI batting chart, said after India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in Pune on Sunday.

“Of course I enjoy scoring runs, but if they come in a winning cause, nothing like it.”