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Youngest No.1 Ranked Test Bowler in the world

In this article, we are going to witness those bowlers who became the youngest No.1 ranked Test bowler in the world

Dec 25, 2021, 11:06 AM6 min read

In the history of test cricket, there are some great bowlers who have performed brilliantly throughout their careers. They have always been in the top 10 of the ICC rankings for bowlers. Meanwhile, they have reached the top of the ICC rankings at such a young age. Test cricket is made for the fittest player who can make it all the 5 days of a test match. The bowler can bowl back-to-back overs each day if his fitness is at the top level. However, in this article, we are going to witness those bowlers who became the youngest No.1 ranked Test bowler in the world.

#5. Waqar Younis | 23y 53d | 1993

Waqar Younis | Youngest No.1 Ranked Test Bowler in the world | Sportzpoint.com
Image - Wisden

Former Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis has ranked at no. 1 in ICC Test rankings in the year 1993. Younis was 23 years and 53 days old when he became the youngest no. 1 ranked test bowler in the world.
With his potent in-swinging yorkers and fearsome pace, the Pakistani speedster brought a new word to the cricketing vocabulary.

Batsmen were "Waqared" with legs or stumps spread-eagled with alarming regularity throughout his Test career – no more so than at Hamilton in the 1993 New Year's Test. His figures of 4-59 and 5-22 helped his side to a thrilling 33-run victory when the home side collapsed to just 93 all out chasing a mere 127 to win. That effort moved him above Curtly Ambrose into the top spot, wherein total he spent 39 matches (367 days) as the top-ranked Test bowler between 1993 and 1995.

Read Also: Most wickets in ODIs in 2021

#4. Joey Palmer | 23y 15d | 1882

Joey Palmer | Youngest No.1 Ranked Test Bowler in the world | Sportzpoint.com
Image - CricHQ

Former Australia spinner Joey Palmer has ranked at no. 1 in the ICC Test rankings in the year 1882. He was just 23 years and 15 days old when he became the youngest no. 1 ranked test bowler in the world. That makes him at number four on this list. A medium-paced spinner who was often unplayable on pitches favoring his type of bowling.

Meanwhile, he led Australia's attack in the early years of Test cricket. Having taken eleven wickets in the February 1882 Test at Sydney which Australia won by five wickets, he followed up with nine more wickets the following month at the same venue. His figures of 5-46 and 4-44 brought another home victory – this time by six wickets – and propelled him to the top of the bowling table, ahead of Fred Spofforth. His reign at the top lasted 12 matches and 933 days between 1882 and 1886 when he fractured his knee and was never the same again.

Also Read: Most wickets in T20Is in 2021

#3. Lan Botham | 22y 259d | 1978

Lan Botham | Youngest No.1 Ranked Test Bowler in the world | Sportzpoint.com
Image - CricTracker

Former England batting all-rounder Sir Lan Botham has reached the no. 1 spot at the age of just 22 years and 279 days. He reached the no. 1 rank back in the year 1978. It is doubtful if anyone has had such a spectacular start to their Test career as Ian Botham. It took him a mere 11 Tests to overtake team-mate Bob Willis and reach number one for the first time.

At that stage, he had taken 64 wickets at just 16.54 runs apiece and it was his match return of 6-101 and 5-39 against New Zealand at Lord's which moved him into the top spot. Moreover, he was also averaging more than forty with the bat too. Injuries took their toll later in his career, but he still spent 60 Tests – 845 days – as the top-ranked bowler between 1978 and 1980 – no mean feat considering he was competing with the West Indian pacemen, Dennis Lillee and Richard Hadlee at the time.

Read Also: Most overs bowled in test cricket

#2. George Lohmann | 22y 258d | 1888

George Lohmann | SportzPoint.com
Image - Cricket stuff

Former England fast bowler George Lohmann has reached the no. 1 spot in the ICC rankings at the age of just 22 years and 258 days. Meanwhile, he reached a milestone in the year 1888. Although the game has changed unrecognizably from the early days of Test cricket, George Lohmann's career bowling figures still inspire awe now – more than a hundred years after his death. He still owns the best bowling average and strike rate of any bowler with more than fifty Test wickets and held the world record for the best innings bowling figures for more than sixty years.

His first great performance came at The Oval in 1886 when he took twelve wickets and after returning 8-35 at Sydney in early 1887 he returned the following year to take 5-17 and 4-35 to rout Australia for just 42 and 82. He lost the top spot later that year but reclaimed it after a sensational 1896-96 series in South Africa in which he took 35 wickets at just 5.80 apiece. He spent a total of six matches and 339 days on top.

#1. Kagiso Rabada | 22y 231d | 2018

Kagiso Rabada | Youngest No.1 Ranked Test Bowler in the world | Sportzpoint.com
Image - India TV

South African pace battery Kagiso Rabada has topped the ICC bowlers rankings at the age of 22 years and 231 days. Rabada has reached the milestone in January 2018. Meanwhile, Rabada has now the youngest bowler to reach the milestone in Test cricket history. Kagiso Rabada first captured the limelight at ICC U/19 World Cup 2014 in the UAE when South Africa won the title. Meanwhile, he took 14 wickets in the tournament, including 6-25 against Australia, and subsequently made his Test debut at Mohali the following year.

Rabada took a match haul of 13-144 against England at Centurion in early 2016 and took ten in the match against Sri Lanka at Cape Town in January 2017. He continued to impress throughout the year, with another ten-wicket haul coming against Bangladesh at Bloemfontein in October before his Cape Town efforts finally pushed his top. No one-trick pony, he also reached the top spot in the ODI bowling table – albeit for just five days – in May and June 2017.

Also Read: ICC WTC Table after second Ashes test

Kagiso Rabada | Youngest No.1 Ranked Test Bowler in the world | Sportzpoint.com

N.B: The stats are accurate as of 25/12/2021.

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Every Test Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain of the Indian Men's Test Cricket team for the five-Test series starting in England from June 20.

May 24, 2025, 8:57 AM4 min read

Every Test Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain of the Indian Men's Test Cricket team for the five-Test series starting in England from June 20. Wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been appointed as the vice-captain of the team.

Also Read: LIVE: Indian Test team announcement for England tour LIVE updates | Subhman Gill named captain; Nair, Sudharsan, Easwaran, Shardul in test squad

Gill will replace Rohit Sharma, who retired from the format in May due to poor form last season, especially in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Gill's Test career

Gill has played 32 Tests for India so far. He made his Test debut in the MCG Test on India's 2020-21 Australia tour. He has so far scored 1893 runs at an average of 35.05. There is a big difference between his average at home (42.03) and outside (27.53). The upcoming series will be Gill's first full tour.

He has also played two WTC Finals there in 2021 and 2023, and also played the fifth Test on the 2021 tour after it was postponed due to COVID-19.

India will start WTC 2025-27 cycle with five-Test series

India will start the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a five-Test series against England. They are scheduled to play the first Test at Headingley (from June 20), the second Test at Edgbaston (from July 2), the third Test at Lord's (from July 10), the fourth Test at Old Trafford (from July 23) and the final Test at The Oval (from July 31).

Every Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

Since their first Test in 1932, India have witnessed 36 Test captains across 589 matches. CK Nayudu led India in their maiden Test match in 1932 against England. However, it was only 20 years later that India tasted their first Test victory under the captaincy of Vijay Hazare against England on February 10, 1952 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Only five Indian captains – Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – have managed to notch up at least 10 Test victories. Kohli remains as India’s most successful Test captain, winning 40 of the 68 Tests he led in with a 58.82 success rate. Leading in 60 games between 2008-14, Dhoni is the second-most successful Test skipper for the country, winning 27 matches.

No. Captain Played Won Lost Drawn/Tied Win %
1 C. K. Nayudu 4 0 3 1 0
2 Maharajkumar of Vizianagram 3 0 2 1 0
3 Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi 3 0 1 2 0
4 Lala Amarnath 15 2 6 7 13.33
5 Vijay Hazare 14 1 5 8 7.14
6 Vinoo Mankad 6 0 1 5 0
7 Ghulam Ahmed 3 0 2 1 0
8 Polly Umrigar 8 2 2 4 25
9 Hemu Adhikari 1 0 0 1 0
10 Datta Gaekwad 4 0 4 0 0
11 Pankaj Roy 1 0 1 0 0
12 Gulabrai Ramchand 5 1 2 2 20
13 Nari Contractor 12 2 2 8 16.67
14 Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi 40 9 19 12 22.5
15 Chandu Borde 1 0 1 0 0
16 Ajit Wadekar 16 4 4 8 25
17 Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan 5 0 2 3 0
18 Sunil Gavaskar 47 9 8 30 19.14
19 Bishan Singh Bedi 22 6 11 5 27.27
20 Gundappa Viswanath 2 0 1 1 0
21 Kapil Dev 34 4 7 23 11.76
22 Dilip Vengsarkar 10 2 5 3 20
23 Ravi Shastri 1 1 0 0 100
24 Krishnamachari Srikkanth 4 0 0 4 0
25 Mohammad Azharuddin 47 14 14 19 29.79
26 Sachin Tendulkar 25 4 9 12 16
27 Sourav Ganguly 49 21 13 15 42.86
28 Rahul Dravid 25 8 6 11 32
29 Virender Sehwag 4 2 1 1 50
30 Anil Kumble 14 3 5 6 21.42
31 Mahendra Singh Dhoni 60 27 18 15 45
32 Virat Kohli 68 40 17 11 58.82
33 Ajinkya Rahane 6 4 0 2 66.67
34 KL Rahul 3 2 1 0 66.67
35 Rohit Sharma 24 12 9 3 50
36 Jasprit Bumrah 3 1 2 0
37 Shubman Gill    --   --   --   --  --

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"Wear whites for Virat": RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute

Get ready to witness a sea of whites in Chinnaswamy stadium. RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute. Check the full article for all the details.

May 16, 2025, 7:40 AM2 min read

"Wear whites for Virat": RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute | sportzpoint.com

RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute? Yes! Fans are planning a special "wear white" initiative and asking the crowd to show up in whites for the upcoming RCB vs KKR match at Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 17, 2025.

As the IPL is set to resume tomorrow, and we will witness Virat Kohli play his first match after his announcement of test retirement, fans are organising a heartfelt tribute for the King!

The viral spread of white wave

A fan-driven moment is going viral recently where they call the crowd to wear white for a collective tribute to Virat Kohli after his test retirement.

Whether you have a test jersey or not, all they ask for is wearing anything white instead of the jerseys of IPL franchises.

Discussions on Reddit

The white tribute takes shape on reddit as fans try to reach out as much as possible.

Reddit discussion on how RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute | sportzpoint.com
Reddit discussion thread on wear white in Chinnaswamy tribute. Image | Reddit

Fans pledge to wear white in Instagram comments

Fans leave heartfelt messages on comments section of official Royal Challengers Bengaluru Instagram page.

RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute | sportzpoint.com
Comments on RCB's official Instagram handle. Image | Instagram 

Hashtags like #WearWhiteForVirat, #KohliTestTribute, and #KohliTestFarewell are the ones people are using to make this a trend before the upcoming IPL 2025 match.

RCB fans in Bengaluru to wear white for Virat Kohli Test tribute | sportzpoint.com
Comments on RCB's official Instagram handle. Image | Instagram 

Content Creators spreading the word

Many content creators have joined hands to support this initiative and they are getting huge responses.

Harsha Bhogle reacts on Twitter 

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Most runs in WTC 2023-25 | Updated

The battle for most runs in WTC 2023-25 is intense. See where the highest run-scorers stands following Joe Root, who is in top of the chart!

May 15, 2025, 2:28 PM4 min read

Most runs in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com

The ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 saw some stellar batting performances. Some players have consistently showed how good they are with the bat, and secured their top spot. 

As the WTC 2023-25 is approaching its end, it is now time to look at those huge numbers by some sensational test batters.

Check out these names with most runs in WTC 2023-25.

1. Joe Root (1968 runs) | England 

Joe Root holds the first rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Joe Root in action during the World Test Championship 2023-2025. Image | Mint

Joe Root, who is in the top 5 for most runs in test career among some legendary test batters, holds the 1st rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25. He is a central figure for England in tests.

Root's contribution in the WTC 2023-25 cycle has been immense. He scored 1968 runs in 22 matches, with his highest score being 262 against Pakistan, which is the second-highest individual score by an English batter in WTC 2023-25 cycle.

He scored 7 centuries in this cycle, which is unmatched so far.

Read Also: Joe Root to break Sachin Tendulkar's Record of Runs In Test Cricket, predicts Ricky Ponting

Joe Root stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
2023-2024 22 40 1968 262 54.66 3006 65.46 7 7 1 186 9

2. Yashasvi Jaiswal (1789 runs) | India

Yashasvi Jaiswal holds the second rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Yashasvi Jaiswal celebrating his double century against England in WTC 2023-25. Image | Instagram 

Yashasvi Jaiswal made his debut in test cricket during the WTC 2023-25 cycle and his journey was nothing short of sensational. He emerged as the highest run-scorer for India and holds the 2nd rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25.

He scored a total of 1798 runs in 19 matches, with 2 back-to-back double centuries against England, which showcased his ability to dominate in this format.

Read Also: IND vs ENG: Yashasvi Jaiswal becomes fastest Indian to complete 1000 runs in Test cricket

Yashasvi Jaiswal stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg  BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
2023-2025 19 36 1798 214* 52.88 2738 65.66 14 10 3 207 39

3. Ben Duckett (1470 runs) | England 

Ben Duckett holds the third rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Ben Duckett celebrating his century against India in WTC 2023-25. Image | Instagram 

The opening batter for England, Ben Duckett, was phenomenal in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. He consistently provided decent starts to his team with the kind of explosive batting he is known for.

Ben scored 1470 runs in 22 matches and holds the 3rd rank for most runs in WTC 2023-25. He scored 2 centuries during his campaign and proved to be one of the key batters for England.

Read Also: Highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25

Ben Duckett stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
2023-2024 22 41 1470 153 36.75 1743 84.33 2 8 2 187 7

Other players with 1400+ runs in WTC 2023-25

The England batters have purely dominated the list for most runs in WTC 2023-25, with their 3 batters appearing in top 5. Harry Brook is the third batter from England who is in the top 5 of this list, having 1400+ runs.

Australian batters like Steve Smith and Travis Head also performed brilliantly in this championship, but only Usman Khawaja could make it to the top 5 by having a 1400+ runs in total.

Read Also: WTC Final: Australia and South Africa announce their squads

The list will look different after the WTC final between Australia and South Africa, but here is what has happened so far.

Rank Player Span Matches Innings  Runs Highest Avg BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s
4 Harry Brook (ENG) 2023-2024 17 29 1463 317 50.44 1755

83.36

4 7 1 144 17
5 Usman Khawaja (AUS) 2023-2025 19 37 1422 232 41.82 3168 44.88 2 6 2 149 5

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Highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25

Bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins, and more, have dominated the WTC 2023-25 cycle. Discover the highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25 and get their stats and best bowling figures.

May 14, 2025, 3:53 PM3 min read

Highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com

As the ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 is getting closer to the grand final, it is now time to look back at the bowlers with standout performances. They have constantly troubled batsmen which led to their team's success.

Who do you think are the ones with most wickets? Take a look at the highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Jasprit Bumrah | India

Jasprit Bumrah holds the first rank in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Jasprit Bumrah in the World Test Championship 2023-2025. Image | Instagram 

Jasprit Bumrah had a remarkable campaign in WTC 2023-25 cycle and has taken the most number of wickets. He took 77 wickets in 15 matches, with an average of 15.09. 

Bumrah recorded five 5-wicket hauls in the cycle and also had his best bowling figure of 6/45 in an innings against England.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

Jasprit Bumrah stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings 

Balls

Overs Maidens Runs  Wickets 

BBI

Avg Economy SR
2023-2025 15 28 2362 393.4 91 1162 77 6/45 15.09 2.95 30.67

Pat Cummins | Australia 

Pat Cummins ranks 2nd in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Pat Cummins in the World Test Championship 2023-2025. Image | BBC

The Australian skipper, Pat Cummins, has done wonders with the ball, by taking 73 wickets in 17 matches. He is the leading wicket taker for Australia and can also be on top by showcasing his wicket-taking skills in the WTC final against South Africa. 

His best bowling performance in the tournament was a 6-wicket haul for 91 runs.

Pat Cummins stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings  Balls Overs Maidens Runs Wickets BBI Avg Economy  SR
2023-2025 17 33 3172 528.4 70 1792 73 6/91 24.54 3.38 43.45

Read Also: WTC Final: Australia and South Africa announce their squads

Mitchell Starc | Australia 

Mitchell Starc holds the 3rd rank in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25 | sportzpoint.com
Mitchell Starc in the World Test Championship 2023-2025. Image | Instagram 

Yet another Australian legend to feature in this list, who is just behind Cummins by one wicket. This fiery left-arm pacer have always been a key bowling of their team. He took 72 wickets in 18 matches total.

Mitchell Starc's best bowling figure in WTC 2023-25 includes a 6-wicket haul for 48 runs.

Mitchell Starc stats in WTC 2023-2025

Span Matches Innings  Balls Overs Maidens Runs Wickets BBI Avg Economy  SR
2023-2025 18 35 3062 510.2 77 1964 72 6/48 27.27 3.84 42.52

Other players with 60+ wickets in WTC 2023-25

Seems like the Aussies and Indians have purely dominated the bowling sides and got most wickets up their sleeves.

Read Also: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

Here are the other players who crossed the 60 wickets mark and deserves a shoutout in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Player  Span Matches Innings  Balls  Overs Maidens Runs Wickets  BBI Avg Economy  SR
Nathan Lyon 2023-2025 16 28 3077 515.2 69 1584 66 6/65 24.00 3.08 46.62
Ravichandran Ashwin  2023-2025 14 26 2673 445.3 61 1547 63 7/71 24.55 3.47 42.42

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The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

Virat Kohli's influence on cricket in India is huge. Now that he has retired from tests, here we are to examine "The Kohli Effect." Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement? It is an important question to follow.

May 14, 2025, 5:25 AM3 min read

The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement? | sportzpoint.com

Virat Kohli's decision to step away from tests makes it a key question to ask, observe and analyse its effects on fans and their engagement with Test cricket.

People on the internet are talking about the closure of a big chapter. So, now that the chapter is closed, it will be crucial to check if the fans still embrace the long format.

Let's dive into the depths of this particular question that will rise in the days ahead: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

Kohli's unmatched influence on Test cricket fandom

Virat Kohli's fan engagement raise the question that Will Indian fans lose interest in Tes cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement? | sportzpoint.com
Virat Kohli walking out of the pavillion as the crowd cheer up in joy. Image | Pinterest 

Virat Kohli has left his mark and impact beyond just his bat and performance. The sentimental connection fans had with him in tests is hard to put into words.

Considering India had exceptional test cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar, what is it about this man that his test exit is feeling like an irreplaceable void?

  • Virat Kohli is the most successful Indian Test captain and holds the record for most victories, with 40 wins in total.
  • His captaincy at home soil was exceptional, which showed everyone how dominant the Indian team can be, winning 24 out of 31 matches.
  • Kohli's presence in Tests was unique. He inspired millions of fans to watch the format, who were drawn by his presence and performance.
  • He fundamentally reshaped the Test landscape for India by proving the entire world that this country is equally good in Test just like other formats.
  • Kohli's on-field intensity made every moment iconic for the teammates and fans to watch.
  • He holds the record for scoring the most double centuries as an Indian batter, with 7 double centuries in his career. 
  • Kohli's hunger for doing better and delivering crucial knocks and centuries for the team has drawn so many non-cricket fans to watch this format.
  • Fans felt a strong emotional connection to his journey, following the highs and lows, and his commitment to winning for India.

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

What could Kohli's absence mean for the Test in India?

Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohlis retirement? | sportzpoint.com
A kid holding a banner in a crowd during a match of the Indian cricket team. Image | Hindustan Times 

Virat Kohli's role in this format has been significant, on and off the ground. The reaction of fans after his retirement news made it clear how he has defined an entire generation's perception of the format.

Social media is flooded with posts and comments like "End of an Era," "Test cricket won't be the same without the King," "Grew up watching him fire in tests, a part of our childhood is gone today," and many others.

While some people are recalling those "memories and battles," some are acknowledging "the irreplaceable void and future of test cricket for India."

Read Also: "End of an era": Cricketing world reacts to Virat Kohli's test retirement

The kind of reaction and energy from the fandom makes it obvious to speculate how challenging it can be to keep the same level of interest in tests now. It makes it even questionable as the former captain, Rohit Sharma, has also decided to retire from Test cricket, days before Kohli's retirement.

The whole nation will definitely miss Ro-Ko in tests. But will it affect their interest in this format?

It will be a vital thing to keep an eye on in the future.

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