Varun Chakaravarthy becomes World No.1 in T20Is, joins Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi in elusive list

By Admin

18 Sep, 2025

Indian mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has etched his name in the history books, becoming the World No.1 bowler in ICC T20I rankings. The 34-year-old achieved this milestone on Wednesday, following his brilliant performances in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, where he spun a web around Pakistan in the Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium.

Third Indian Bowler to Reach No.1

Chakaravarthy is now only the third Indian bowler to hold the No.1 position in ICC T20I bowling rankings, joining the elite company of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi. His consistency and ability to choke runs have made him India’s go-to bowler in crunch situations. Earlier this year, he climbed to the second spot but has now leapfrogged New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy, who had been holding the top spot since March.

Asia Cup Heroics

The spinner’s Asia Cup 2025 performances have been nothing short of stellar. He recorded figures of 1/4 in 2 overs against the UAE and 1/24 in 4 overs against Pakistan, showcasing his control and match-winning abilities. His variations and mystery deliveries have troubled some of the best batters in the world, making him a crucial weapon in India’s bowling arsenal.

Other Indian Players on the Rise

India’s spin department continues to shine in the rankings. Axar Patel climbed to the 12th spot, while Kuldeep Yadav jumped seven places to reach 16th, underlining India’s depth in spin bowling. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah, who returned to T20I cricket after the World Cup, also made gains, moving up four spots to 40th place.

In the batting charts, Abhishek Sharma has solidified his status as the World No.1 T20I batter, following quickfire knocks of 30 and 31 runs against the UAE and Pakistan. These innings added 55 rating points, taking his total to 884 points. However, England’s Phil Salt and Jos Buttler are close behind, sitting at second and third place respectively.

Global Movers in Rankings

The ICC rankings also saw several other big gainers:

• Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) – up to 6th
  
  

• Dewald Brevis (South Africa) – up to 11th
  
  

• Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Afghanistan) – up to 19th
  
  

• Mohammad Waseem (UAE) – up to 20th
  
  

• Aiden Markram (South Africa) – up to 30th
  
  

• Shubman Gill (India) – up to 39th
  
  

• Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan) – up to 55th
  
  

England’s Power Show Against South Africa

Adding to the rankings shake-up, England’s Phil Salt played a record-breaking knock of 141 not out off 60 balls, the highest T20I score by an England batter and the fastest T20I century for his country. His partner Jos Buttler smashed 83 off 30 balls, helping England post 304/2 against South Africa. These heroics boosted Salt closer to the No.1 spot and helped Buttler break into the top three for the first time, with a career-high 794 rating points.

Conclusion

Varun Chakaravarthy’s rise to the World No.1 T20I bowler is a testament to his perseverance and skills as a mystery spinner. With India’s bowlers climbing the charts and batters like Abhishek Sharma leading the way, Indian cricket finds itself in a golden phase in the shortest format of the game.