Fact Check: Is the viral claim of Ravindra Jadeja's world-record streak as No. 1 all-rounder true?

The Indian spinner Ravindra Jadeja achieved a significant milestone today by completing 1,150 consecutive days as the top-ranked all-rounder in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Test rankings. The slow left-arm bowler held this position from March 2022. But, contrary to several media claims and congratulatory posts by the Indian cricket team’s official social media handles, this streak is not a world record.

To begin with, Jadeja first achieved the No. 1 Test all-rounder ranking in August 2017, but only for a short time period. He briefly regained the position from March 8 to March 16, 2022, before Jason Holder overtook him. He reclaimed the top spot later that month and has held it since.

Has Jadeja created a world-record of holding on to the No.1 ranking for the longest time?

According to ICC data, former South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis had a longer unbroken run as the No. 1 Test all-rounder. The pacer held the top spot from December 19, 2006 to December 19, 2011, which was a span of 1,827 days. Additionally, he had another streak between March 12, 2002 and May 3, 2005 which lasted 1,149 days. Jadeja’s current streak only surpasses this second stretch which may have led to the confusion regarding the world record.

It is also important to note that the ICC rankings were retrospectively applied to Test cricket after their development in 1987. As a result, legendary players before that era were also ranked using recent historical data. The West Indies great Sir Garfield Sobers dominated the all-rounder rankings with an unbroken record from February 20, 1962 to March 10, 1974, which was a phenomenal record of 4,402 days at the top.

Jadeja's achievement in the red-ball format is undoubtedly impressive but it does not set a new world record.