Kohli dethrones Smith as world's best

India captain Virat Kohli has dethroned Australia’s Steve Smith as the ICC’s No.1 Test batsman.

Kohli scored 149 – his maiden Test century on British soil – and 51 in India’s thrilling 31-run first-Test loss to England at Edgbaston, and those runs were enough to see him surpass Smith.

Smith, who is currently serving a 12-month ban for his involvement in the Cape Town ball-tampering incident, held the No.1 ranking for 32 months dating back to December 2015.

But with no Test cricket for the Australian until next year’s Ashes in England, should be selected, it was a matter of time before his reign would end.

Kohli is India’s first No.1-ranked Test batsman since legend Sachin Tendulkar topped the rankings in January 2011 when he held the mantle alongside South Africa champion Jacques Kallis.

Having moved 31 ranking points to 934, Kohli is now India’s all-time highest-ranked batsman, and sits in 14th place in the overall all-time rankings.

But the 29-year-old said individual milestones come second after team success after he was asked about the importance of his first Test century in England.

"It was just like any hundred I score,” Kohli BBC Radio's Test Match Special on Saturday.

“Back in the day I used to think about playing in different conditions, different countries, but when you become captain it’s about taking your team across the line.

"When the focus is on the larger picture, these things don’t matter –- you are able to bat longer than you would've done otherwise and the ability you have inside just unleashes because you're not focused on your personal milestones."

India head to Lord’s for the second Test, which stars on Thursday, filled with the confidence of four years ago when they beat England by 95 runs.

"The series is set up nicely now," he said.

"The fact we didn't play to our potential at all and were still close in the game says everything about us as a side.

"If we pull ourselves together, and even play 80-85 percent of the cricket we can, then it’s going to be a very exciting and competitive series."

ICC Test batsman rankings

1. Virat Kohli (IND), 934 points

2. Steve Smith (AUS), 929

3. Joe Root (ENG), 865

4. Kane Williamson (NZ), 847

5. David Warner (AUS), 820