Twitter has mixed reactions as Virat Kohli slips below Steve Smith in Test rankings

Virat Kohli, the Indian cricketer, has arguably been one of the greatest cricketers India have ever produced. The Delhi-born cricketer has flourished in all the formats and has carved a reputation as a dependable batsman for whichever team he has gone on to represent. The 29-year old is currently in England where he is leading the Indian team in the five-match Test series.

The visitors have lost the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s respectively and are currently 0-2 down with three matches to be played at Trent Bridge, The Rose Bowl, and Kennington Oval respectively. From the team’s point of view, Kohli hasn’t had the best of times, but from the personal front, he had every reason to cheer. In the first Test, he notched scores of 149 and 51.

Smith overtakes the Indian captain

Albeit the knocks couldn’t get India over the finishing line, Kohli was crowned as the number one ranked batsman in Test cricket on August 5 after the conclusion of the first match. He surpassed Steve Smith, who perched at the helm for 32 straight months. Smith is currently serving a 12-month ban from Cricket Australia (CA) owing to the ball-tampering scandal back in March.

Australia will be playing a couple of Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this year and Smith won’t be a part of the side’s campaign. In the meantime, Kohli didn’t have an auspicious time with the willow in the second Test and was dismissed for 23 and 17. To add insult to injury, he also has lost his top ranking to Smith due to the couple of knocks.

Currently, Virat has 919 rating points compared to Smith’s 929. The Indian team needs Virat to perform as India would be looking to make a comeback in the third Test in Nottingham. Meanwhile, Twitter had mixed reactions after Kohli slipped to the second position.

Here is how Twitter reacted

Weirdly, Steve Smith is now the No 1 Test batsman in the world again, after the end of Virat Kohli’s brief reign.

— Lawrence Booth (@the_topspin) August 13, 2018

Steve Smith is Back To The Position Where He Belongs, Virat Kohli was never suitable enough to be Ranked 1 & Hence He is back behind Steve Smith where as Smith ahead of them All. Now World looks Realistic 👍🏻 #ENGvIND #Cricket 🏏

— Fitness Trainer (@imtheguy007) August 13, 2018

Virat Kohli's Lord's Test was so poor that Steve Smith is now the world's number 1 ranked Test batsman again.

— Dennis Underratedson (@DennisCricket_) August 13, 2018

@ICC how is Steve smith the best ranked batsman in the world? He is banned and not playing!

— Craig Finean (@cfinean) August 13, 2018

Steve Smith bossing the Test rankings despite being banned for a year. pic.twitter.com/zgpBC21iLv

— Devdutt (@ApratimKheladu) August 13, 2018

Steve Smith is back at No.1 Test Batsman Spot! Virat Kohli loses points after scoring only 40 runs in Lord's Test#ENGvIND

— Aahana (@aahxna) August 13, 2018

Steve Smith No 1 Test batsman, again. @stevesmith49 #Cricket

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) August 13, 2018

Steve Smith back at No.1 #ICCRankings

— Abhishek Sarkar 🇮🇳🇬🇧 (@Iam_Abhi45) August 13, 2018

Good to see Steve Smith earning recognition for his recent good form … https://t.co/LxpFa9ZDsU

— Chris Devine (@chrsdvn) August 13, 2018

Kohli Loses His No.1 Test Ranking, Now Steve Smith Is No.1 Test Batsman

1) Steve Smith (929)
2) Virat Kohli (919)

Before Lord's Test Kohli's Test Rating Is (934)

— Shebas Tendulkar (@ShebasTendulkar) August 13, 2018

STEVE SMITH is again no.1 test batsman in world #ENGvIND ! Kohli falls

— Arsh Sandhu (@i_m_arsh) August 13, 2018

James Anderson reaches England's highest bowling ranking in 38 years: Virat Kohli cedes his top spot one week after gaining it, slipping below the suspended Steven Smith

— Muhammad Usman Ahmad (@UsmanSwift) August 13, 2018

Virat Kohli drops below Smith in test rankings. It's easy to be no.1 but not everyone is Steve fucking Smith to hold on that position consistently like a boss.

— Umesh Sigdel (@USigdel) August 13, 2018

Can't understand the ranking..Steve Smith is far away from test cricket, we all know that…but he still manages to climb top rank again!

— Sandip Sardar (@SandipS512) August 13, 2018

Wonder Steve Smith not played test match recently once again he became number one that's what class batsman stay forever

— insaf ali (@inshaf_official) August 13, 2018

Steve Smith is the new No. 1 Test batsman as per latest ICC rankings.

Here are the top 10 batsmen: https://t.co/Bsz0Zb2gTr pic.twitter.com/ihN3mcPDUE

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) August 13, 2018

Who is Steve Smith? Nobody of that name playing Test cricket!

— Tim (@leics1975) August 13, 2018