News
26 June 2025 • roughly 6 min read
India’s Rishabh Pant has nudged up to a career-best seventh in the ICC Test batting list after his twin centuries at Headingley. The 27-year-old became only the second wicketkeeper, after Andy Flower, to record hundreds in both innings of a Test, making 134 and 118. “It’s nice, but I’d trade every ranking point for a win,” Pant said in the post-match press conference, reflecting on India’s five-wicket defeat. England comfortably chased 371, sealing victory late on the final day.
Ben Duckett’s match-winning fourth-innings 149 from 170 balls pushes him five places to eighth, also a personal best. “I just tried to keep things simple and back my options,” the left-hander told Sky Sports. His 62 in the first innings offered useful ballast and earned him the Player-of-the-Match award.
England captain Joe Root retains top spot in the batting standings. Root’s unbeaten 53 saw England home, while team-mate Harry Brook, second in the table, added 99 on the opening day. India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal stays fourth after his first-day 101.
India’s new Test skipper Shubman Gill, whose composed 110 anchored the tourists’ first-innings 489, climbs five places to 20th. England’s Ollie Pope moves up three positions to 19th following his own first-innings ton. Former England coach David Lloyd noted on BBC Test Match Special, “You can see Pope maturing; he looks more patient without losing flair.”
Bowling and all-rounders
Jasprit Bumrah remains the No. 1 bowler, thanks to figures of 5 for 69 in England’s first innings. South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Australia’s Pat Cummins sit second and third. Ben Stokes edges up three positions to fifth among all-rounders, a table still topped by India’s Ravindra Jadeja.
ICC head of cricket, Geoff Allardice, said in Wednesday’s media release: “High-scoring Tests like Headingley reward players who can adapt quickly, and the rankings reflect that versatility.”
How the table looks (selected)
1 Joe Root (Eng)
2 Harry Brook (Eng)
3 —
4 Yashasvi Jaiswal (Ind)
7 Rishabh Pant (Ind)
8 Ben Duckett (Eng)
Context and next steps
The updated standings arrive with five months left in the current World Test Championship cycle. Both sides have three series remaining, leaving room for movement. England travel to Pakistan in August, while India host New Zealand in October.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra summed it up on his YouTube channel: “Pant and Duckett show that attacking cricket can still survive over five days. The challenge is sustaining that approach when conditions bite back.”
Full rankings tables are available on the ICC website.
