ICC Test ranking: Virat Kohli uncrowned by Steve Smith, R Ashwin drops to ninth spot

Virat Kohli's bad form has now affected his ranking as Australia's Steve Smith dethroned the Indian skipper to reach the top spot in the International Cricket Council`s latest released Test ranking on Wednesday.

This is the eighth time that Smith has reached the top spot in Test rankings after first occupying the top position in June 2015.

After scores of 2 and 19 in the first #NZvIND Test, Virat Kohli has suffered a slip, allowing Steve Smith to move back to the No.1 spot on the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for batsmen! pic.twitter.com/JtakdSdp6C

— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2020

The 30-year-old Smith currently has 911 points while Indian skipper Kohli is placed on the second position with 906 points. Kohli managed to garner only 21 runs in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington. 

India suffered a 10 wickets loss at the hands of BlackCaps. Kane Williamson moved one position and reached third place in the Test ranking.

Bangladesh's Mushfiqur Rahim has risen five places to return to the top 20 after his double-century in Mirpur while captain Mominul Haque has moved up five places to 39th after a score of 132.

New Zealand's Tim Southee and Trent Boult also made gains in the ICC`s Test bowlers ranking.

Match-winning returns of 9/110 in the first #NZvIND Test have propelled Tim Southee eight spots in the @MRFWorldwide ICC Test Rankings for bowlers pic.twitter.com/62sP7blXBf

— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2020

Southee has advanced eight spots to take the sixth position, which is his highest since a career-best fifth place in June 2014 while Boult has moved up four slots to take a joint-13th position.

Australia' fast bowler Pat Cummins retained the top spot in ICC Test bowling rankings. As for Indian bowlers, R Ashwin dropped a slot and is now on the ninth position.