Dhawan, Rahul attain career-best rankings

DUBAI: Openers Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul have attained career-high positions in the ICC Test Player Rankings after figuring in an important partnership that helped India defeat Sri Lanka by an innings and 171 runs to complete a 3-0 rout of the home side.

Left-hander Dhawan, who top-scored with 119 in the final Test in Pallekele, moved up 10 places to the 28th position after India won inside three days on Monday. This was the Delhi batsman’s second century in three Tests as he finished with 358 runs and was named player of the series.

Rahul moved up two positions to equal his career-best ninth position after a contribution of 85 in the opening stand of 188 that came in less than 40 overs. Rahul also attained the ninth rank in July this year but the present tally of 761 ratings points is his highest ever.

Hardik Pandya, who scored 96-ball 108 in the same innings, gained 45 positions to reach a career-best 68th rank. India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Sri Lanka’s Lakshan Sandakan have made rapid strides. Kuldeep, coming in for Ravindra Jadeja, moved up 29 slots to 58th place after returning figures of four for 40 and one for 56. Sandakan’s haul of five for 132 helped him gain 16 places to reach the 57th position.

Top-ranked India and seventh-placed Sri Lanka retained their positions in the team rankings with India gaining two points to reach 125 points, increasing their lead over South Africa to 15 points.