Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli has the chance to be the number 1 batsman in the world.Reuters

A day after Sri Lanka crushed South Africa, the stocks for the man of the series, Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunarathne, grew massively as he climbed up to the seventh position in the latest ICC Test rankings. He also became the highest ranked Sri Lanka batsman.

Steven Smith, Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Kane Williamson and David Warner still take the first five slots on the list. 

The other protagonists from the series Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar moved down to the ninth and tenth spot while suspended Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal now occupies the eighth slot on the list.

Also, Theunis de Bruyn, who scored a defiant century in the final innings of the series to salvage pride for his side, escalated to 105 from the 148th position.

The current occupation of the slots gives a great opportunity to Indian captain Virat Kohli, who is number two on the list, to move to the number one spot with the series against England about to begin and with Steven Smith still serving his ban.

Batting (Top 10) -

Steve Smith

Virat Kohli

Joe Root

Kane Williamson

David Warner

C. Pujara

D. Karunaratne

D. Chandimal

Dean Elgar

Aiden Markram

As far as the bowlers are concerned, England's pace spearhead James Anderson slid up to the number one slot as he displaced Kagiso Rabada who is now number two. India's Ravindra Jadeja is number three while R Ashwin continues to be the number five Test ranked bowler. 

The ageless wonder Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath, who once again starred for his side, is still holding on to his eighth slot after his six-wicket haul in the second innings of the final Test match. He even announced that the Test series against England later this year would his final in International cricket. 

Bowling (Top 10) -

James Anderson

Kagiso Rabada

Ravindra Jadeja

Vernon Philander

R. Ashwin

Pat Cummins

Trent Boult

Rangana Herath

Neil Wagner

Josh Hazlewood