Varun Chakravarthy Becomes World No.1 In ICC T20I Bowler Rankings

Post by : Mumtaaz Qadiri

India’s wristspinner Varun Chakravarthy has reached the top position in the ICC men’s T20I bowling rankings. This is a significant achievement for the 34-year-old cricketer. His excellent performances in the ongoing Asia Cup, held in the UAE, have helped him reach this milestone. In the tournament, Chakravarthy bowled impressively against both UAE and Pakistan, taking one wicket for 4 runs against UAE and one wicket for 24 runs against Pakistan. These figures demonstrate his control, skill, and ability to perform under pressure.

Chakravarthy is now the third Indian bowler to achieve the number one ranking in T20I bowling. Before him, Jasprit Bumrah, India’s leading fast bowler, and Ravi Bishnoi, another legspinner, had held this distinction. This shows the strength of India’s spin bowling in the T20 format and the depth of talent in the team.

Overtaking Jacob Duffy

Before Chakravarthy, the top-ranked bowler was Jacob Duffy, a fast bowler from New Zealand. Duffy had been holding the number one position since March 2025, showing his consistent performances over several months. However, Chakravarthy’s recent performances in the Asia Cup allowed him to overtake Duffy and take the top spot. This is a proud moment for India and highlights the contribution of wrist spinners in T20 cricket, a format that demands control, variations, and strategic bowling.

Sri Lanka’s fast bowler Nuwan Thushara also improved his ranking during this period. He rose six places to reach sixth position after taking one wicket in his first two Asia Cup matches. This shows that the tournament has had an impact on global T20I rankings and is helping players strengthen their positions.

Other Bowlers’ Progress in Rankings

Alongside Chakravarthy, several other bowlers from different countries also moved up in the ICC rankings. Pakistan’s left-arm wristspinner Sufiyan Muqeem advanced four places to reach the 11th position. This is a good sign for Pakistan as their spin bowling continues to improve in T20 cricket.

India’s left-arm spinner Axar Patel moved up one position to 12th. Axar has been consistent in the last few matches and has contributed both with the ball and as a handy batsman. Pakistan’s legspinner Abrar Ahmed made a remarkable jump of 11 places to reach the 16th position. Another Indian spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, moved up 16 spots to reach 23rd place. Afghanistan’s young spinner Noor Ahmad is now ranked 25th.

These movements in the rankings show that players’ performances in major tournaments like the Asia Cup have a direct impact on their global standings. It also highlights the competitiveness in international T20 cricket, where small performances can significantly change rankings.

Abhishek Sharma Holds Top Batter Position

While Chakravarthy made headlines with his bowling, India’s opener Abhishek Sharma continues to dominate the batting rankings. Sharma is the number one batter in ICC’s T20I rankings and has maintained this position through consistent performances.

In the Asia Cup, Sharma scored 30 runs off just 16 balls against UAE and 31 runs off 13 balls against Pakistan. His aggressive and quick scoring style has helped India set competitive totals and maintain pressure on opponents. Sharma’s ability to score quickly at the top of the order is crucial in T20 cricket, where the first six overs are often decisive.

Maintaining the number one position in batting rankings is not easy. Sharma’s performances show his consistency, skill, and temperament in high-pressure games. He has become a key player for India in T20 cricket, providing stability at the top and allowing the middle-order batters to play freely.

England’s Openers Rise in Rankings

England’s T20I openers, Phil Salt and Jos Buttler, also made significant gains in the batting rankings. Salt moved up to second place, while Buttler reached third position. Both players had remarkable performances against South Africa in a T20I match at Old Trafford.

Phil Salt scored an unbeaten 141 runs off 60 balls. This is England’s highest score in T20I cricket and also the fastest century recorded by an English player in the format. Jos Buttler scored 83 runs off 30 balls in the same match. This was the first time Buttler entered the top three in ICC’s T20I batting rankings.

These performances show the impact of individual brilliance in T20 cricket. Salt and Buttler’s ability to score quickly and dominate the opposition demonstrates England’s strength in batting and adds depth to their team. Both players are likely to continue influencing games and ranking positions with consistent performances.

Importance of ICC Rankings

The ICC T20I rankings are a measure of players’ performances, consistency, and contribution to their teams. They provide recognition at the international level and help fans and teams track players’ progress. Achieving a top ranking, whether in batting or bowling, is a milestone in a player’s career.

For bowlers like Chakravarthy, reaching the top spot shows their skill, strategy, and impact on the game. For batters like Sharma, maintaining the number one position requires consistent scoring, adaptability to different match situations, and strong mental focus.

The rankings also encourage competition among players. Seeing someone rise to the top motivates others to improve their performance. Tournaments like the Asia Cup play an important role in this process, as they provide a platform for players to showcase their talent.

Contributions of Spin Bowlers

This update highlights the growing importance of spin bowlers in T20 cricket. Players like Chakravarthy, Bishnoi, and Kuldeep Yadav demonstrate how spin bowling can control the game, take crucial wickets, and restrict scoring in the death overs.

Spin bowlers use variations like the googly, carrom ball, and slower deliveries to confuse batters. In tournaments like the Asia Cup, skilled spin bowlers make a big difference in matches, particularly on pitches that favor spin. Their contributions often decide the outcome of closely contested games.

Future Prospects

With Varun Chakravarthy reaching number one, India now has three top-ranked bowlers in T20I cricket history. This is a proud achievement and reflects the quality of cricket in India. Abhishek Sharma’s dominance in batting ensures that India has a strong balance between batting and bowling.

England’s rise in batting rankings, with Salt and Buttler performing exceptionally, adds excitement to international T20 cricket. Fans can expect more high-quality matches, competitive rankings, and thrilling performances in upcoming tournaments.

The latest ICC rankings show the impact of performances in the Asia Cup. Varun Chakravarthy has become the number one T20I bowler, overtaking Jacob Duffy. Abhishek Sharma continues to hold the top batting position. England’s Salt and Buttler have climbed the rankings with record-breaking performances.

The rankings highlight the importance of consistency, skill, and mental strength in international cricket. Spin bowlers like Chakravarthy are crucial in T20 cricket, while aggressive openers like Sharma, Salt, and Buttler make scoring fast runs possible. These updates show the evolving landscape of T20 cricket and the key players shaping the game today.

ICC T20I rankings, Varun Chakravarthy bowling, India cricket success