Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has reached a career milestone by becoming the No. 1 ranked bowler in the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings. This marks the first time Chakravarthy has topped the global chart, making him only the third Indian to achieve this feat after Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi.
The 34-year-old spinner rose three places in the rankings following his standout performances in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. He delivered economical spells of 1/4 in two overs against the UAE and 1/24 in four overs against Pakistan, helping India secure commanding victories in both matches.
Chakravarthy now holds 733 rating points, surpassing New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy, who had maintained the top spot since March 2025. His consistent form throughout the year, including a five-wicket haul against England earlier in the season, has cemented his reputation as one of the format’s elite bowlers.
Other notable movements in the ICC T20I bowling rankings include:
- Kuldeep Yadav (India) jumping 16 places to 23rd
- Axar Patel (India) moving up one spot to 12th
- Nuwan Thushara (Sri Lanka) climbing six places to 6th
- Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed (Pakistan) rising to 11th and 16th respectively
- Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan) entering the top 25
In the batting rankings, India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to hold the No. 1 position with 884 rating points, bolstered by explosive knocks against UAE and Pakistan. England’s Phil Salt and Jos Buttler have moved up to second and third positions respectively following dominant performances against South Africa.
Varun Chakravarthy’s rise to the top reflects India’s growing depth in spin bowling and highlights his evolution from a domestic standout to a global T20 force. His achievement is being celebrated across the cricketing fraternity as a testament to perseverance and tactical brilliance.
