Najmul Hossain Shanto has been rewarded handsomely in the ICC Test rankings following his stunning performance in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka, where he became only the 15th player in history to score twin centuries in a Test more than once.
The Bangladesh Test captain has jumped 21 places to reach a career-best 29th position in the latest ICC Test batting rankings, released today. Najmul scored 148 in the first innings and followed it up with an unbeaten 125 in the second innings, efforts that not only helped his side secure a draw but also boosted his individual standing. His previous highest ranking was 42nd, achieved back in 2003 after a Test against New Zealand in Dhaka.
Despite his career-best climb, Najmul is not the highest-ranked Bangladeshi batter. That honour now belongs to Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored 163 and 49 in the same Test. The veteran has moved up 11 spots to 28th, reclaiming the position of Bangladesh’s top-ranked Test batter. Mushfiq’s highest career ranking remains 17th, achieved during the 2022 home series against Sri Lanka.
Litton Das, who made 90 and 3 in Galle, has dropped three places to 40th, while former captain Mominul Haque has slipped five spots to 51st. Opener Sadman Islam, after scoring 14 and a crucial 76, has risen three places to a personal best of 55th. He sits just below Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who missed the Galle Test due to illness.
Dropped for the Colombo Test, middle-order batter Zakir Hasan has endured a significant dip, falling 14 places to 69th.
For Sri Lanka, opener Pathum Nissanka has also reached a career-high after his sublime 187 in Galle. He has leapt 21 spots to 31st. Meanwhile, veteran Angelo Mathews concluded his Test career as the 26th-ranked batter, having dropped three places. The former Sri Lanka captain, who once peaked at No. 3 in 2014, bid farewell to the longest format after a decorated career.
Elsewhere, England’s Ben Duckett has moved into the top 10, climbing five spots to a career-best 8th after playing a match-winning innings against India at Headingley. Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, fresh from a rare twin-century feat for a keeper, has risen to 7th. The top six in the Test batting rankings remain unchanged, with England’s Joe Root continuing to lead the pack.
In the bowling charts, Bangladesh off-spinner Nayeem Hasan, who picked up five wickets in the first innings in Galle, has surged six places to 48th. Hasan Mahmud has gained five positions to move up to 54th. However, young pacer Nahid Rana has slipped 15 spots to 82nd. Taijul Islam, still Bangladesh’s highest-ranked bowler, has dropped three places to 19th.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah remains the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, while fellow countryman Ravindra Jadeja continues to lead the all-rounders’ rankings. Bangladesh’s Mehidy Hasan Miraz follows in second place among Test all-rounders, underlining his importance to the national side.
🏏 Test Batting Rankings – Notable Changes
| Player | Team | Previous Rank | Current Rank | Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | 39 | 28 | ▲ 11 | Bangladesh’s top-ranked Test batter |
| Nazmul Hossain Shanto | Bangladesh | 50 | 29 | ▲ 21 | Career-best; twin centuries in Galle |
| Liton Das | Bangladesh | 37 | 40 | ▼ 3 | Scored 90 & 3 in Galle |
| Mominul Haque | Bangladesh | 46 | 51 | ▼ 5 | Dropped after lean form |
| Sadman Islam | Bangladesh | 58 | 55 | ▲ 3 | Career-best; scored 76 in 2nd innings |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Bangladesh | 54 | 54 | — | Did not play due to illness |
| Zakir Hasan | Bangladesh | 55 | 69 | ▼ 14 | Dropped from squad |
| Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | 52 | 31 | ▲ 21 | Career-best after 187 in 1st innings |
| Angelo Mathews | Sri Lanka | 23 | 26 | ▼ 3 | Retired from Tests |
| Ben Duckett | England | 13 | 8 | ▲ 5 | Career-best; hero at Headingley |
| Rishabh Pant | India | 8 | 7 | ▲ 1 | Twin centuries; 2nd keeper to do so |
🎯 Test Bowling Rankings – Notable Changes
| Player | Team | Previous Rank | Current Rank | Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nayeem Hasan | Bangladesh | 54 | 48 | ▲ 6 | Took 5 wickets in Galle |
| Hasan Mahmud | Bangladesh | 59 | 54 | ▲ 5 | Continues steady climb |
| Nahid Rana | Bangladesh | 67 | 82 | ▼ 15 | Dropped sharply |
| Taijul Islam | Bangladesh | 16 | 19 | ▼ 3 | Still Bangladesh’s top-ranked bowler |
| Jasprit Bumrah | India | 1 | 1 | — | Holds No. 1 spot |
🏆 All-Rounders – Top 2
| Player | Team | Current Rank | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravindra Jadeja | India | 1 | Still top of the all-rounder rankings |
| Mehidy Hasan Miraz | Bangladesh | 2 | Bangladesh’s highest-ranked player |