The Virat Kohli-Steve Smith rivalry turned another page as the India skipper once again rose to the top of the ICC Test batsmen rankings in the latest update to the list, which was released on Wednesday.

Kohli scored a century against Bangladesh in India’s first pink-ball Test at Kolkata, helping the team achieve an innings victory, the fourth consecutive one, a world record.

In contrast, Steve Smith endured somewhat of a lean period, scoring four and 36 in two innings in Australia’s 2-0 series victory over Pakistan. It was the first time he had not scored a half-century in a Test series though he had something to celebrate- becoming the fastest man to reach 7000 Test runs.

Steve Smith returned to Tests only in August- in the Ashes- after his infamous ban for ball-tampering. He enjoyed a stellar series, scoring 774 runs in seven innings, and that set forth a race for the top Test batsmen ranking between him and Kohli.

Read | Dissecting the anatomy of Steve Smith’s batting technique

The India captain has only managed to edge ahead by five points, and Smith could yet take it back when Australia play New Zealand later this month. Kohli will next play Tests only in February when India tour New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the world’s first concussion substitute, Marnus Labuschagne, who incidentally came on the field for Steve Smith has broken into the top ten for the first time in his career. He scored back-to-back centuries against Pakistan, narrowly missing out on a maiden double-century in the first Test, being dismissed for 185.

David Warner, who endured a horrible Ashes, also made it to the top ten on the basis of his 589 runs in the two Tests against Pakistan, which included a double and triple-century, even passing the great Don Bradman’s highest score 334 in the process.

Read | David Warner’s record-breaking triple ton at Adelaide Oval

India had two other representatives in the top ten rankings as the ever-consistent Cheteshwar Pujara held on to fourth and Ajinkya Rahane dropped down a place to sixth after a run-laden 2019.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

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Steve SmithVirat Kohli