Virat Kohli inches closer to Ponting's record in ICC rankings

Dubai : India skipper Virat Kohli's prolific run with the willow has helped him jump three spots to the second position in the latest ICC Test Rankings released on Thursday and inch closer to match Australian legend Ricky Ponting's record of holding the top spot across all the three formats at the same time.

Former Australia captain Ponting is the only batsman to have topped all three formats at the same time -- in December-January 2005-06, while his compatriot Matthew Hayden is the other batsman to have topped all three formats.

Kohli, who amassed 615 runs in the just-concluded three-match Test rubber against Sri Lanka, including two



back-to-back double tons, holds the top spot in both ODIs and T20Is.

The 29-year-old, who stroked 243 and followed with 50 in the drawn third Test against the islanders, entered the series in sixth position but has leapfrogged David Warner, Cheteshwar Pujara, Kane Williamson and Joe Root after the stupendous run which saw him average 152.50.

Though 45 points separate him from No.1 ranked Australia captain Steve Smith, Kohli would be eyeing the chance of reaching the zenith in all three formats in the upcoming three-Test rubber in South Africa in January.

Smith is now on 938 points while Kohli is on 893 points.