Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith: Battle for the top spot

Mumbai: India Skipper Virat Kohli is two points away to topple Steve Smith from the No.1 Test batsman spot in the ICC rankings after a career-best 254 not out against South Africa in Pune.

Steve Smith is currently the No.1 batsman with 937 points while Virat Kohli has 936 points.

No.1 vs No.2 Test Batsman

Virat Kohli scored his first Test hundred of 2019 and his 7th Test double hundred as India crushed South Africa by an innings and 137 runs in the second match in Pune.

Records tumbled as Kohli registered his seventh Test double-century, joining England great Wally Hammond and Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene.

He moved past the likes of decorated figures Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, who scored six double hundreds.

In the process, Kohli also reached 7000 Test runs as he moved past moving past Sir Donald Bradman’s 6996 runs that came in 52 Tests.

Kohli will have the opportunity to topple Smith in that Test, with Australia’s next test match will be on November 21.

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Smith had been the No.1 Test batsman from December 2015 to August 2018 but lost the title to Kohli while he was on the sidelines serving his 12-month suspension from international cricket.

Smith surged back to No.1 position with his golden patch in the recently concluded Ashes series in England.

He finished the Ashes with a remarkable 774 runs in four Tests at an eye-popping average of 110.57.

Team India is preparing for the third Test against South Africa in Ranchi, starting October 19, having already secured the series.

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