R Ashwin's career-best match haul of 13 for 140 against New Zealand in the Indore Test which concluded last Monday has propelled him back to the top of the ICC Test rankings for bowlers. Ashwin had earlier briefly held the position in July, before being overtaken by Dale Steyn and James Anderson. Ashwin picked up 6 for 81 in the first innings and followed it up with 7 for 59 to achieve a career-best rating of 900 points. He joined an elite club of bowlers to have attained 900 ratings points since 2000; Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Shaun Pollock being the others.
Ashwin is now trailed by Steyn, with 878 points, and Anderson on 870. While Steyn's next Test will be in Australia starting November 3, Anderson is aiming to be fit for the India tour, as he is missing the Bangladesh Tests. Ashwin has a good chance to retain the top spot until the end of the year, with India in the midst of a lengthy home season. If he does so, it will mark the second year in succession that Ashwin closes out the calendar year as the No. 1-ranked Test bowler. Ashwin also leads the allrounders' table, while team-mate Ravindra Jadeja surged to a career-best third, joint Moeen Ali.
Among batsmen, Ajinkya Rahane's innings of 188 and 23 not out in Indore helped him rise to a career-best sixth position, making him the only Indian batsman in the top 10.
