Sehwag's red-hot runs propel him to No 5

Dubai: Indian opener Virender Sehwag has stormed into the top five of the Reliance Mobile ICC Player Rankings for Test batsmen after scoring 293 against Sri Lanka in the third Test in Mumbai.

Sehwag's 293, which turned out to be the cornerstone of his side's victory that ultimately gave India the No 1 position in the ICC Test Championship table for the first time, has rocketed him 14 places to fifth position which he now shares with Pakistan captain Mohammad Yousuf.

It is the first time since October 2006 that Sehwag has returned to the top five. From the Mumbai Test alone, the 31 year old from New Delhi has gained 91 points which makes him one of the six batsmen above the 800-point mark.

It has been an outstanding and memorable series for Sehwag, who not only scored 491 runs in four innings.

Also on the charge are New Zealand's, Ross Taylor and the West Indies captain Chris Gayle. Taylor, who scored 30 and 97 in a losing cause to Pakistan in the Wellington Test, has vaulted eight places to achieve a career-best ninth, while Gayle, who scored 26 and 165 not out, has jumped six places to share 22nd spot with Tillakaratne Dilshan.