How Did Varun Chakaravarthy Become the New No. 1 T20I Bowler?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Varun Chakaravarthy ascends to the No. 1 spot in ICC T20I rankings.
- Significant achievement for Indian cricket.
- Chakaravarthy becomes the third Indian bowler to reach this ranking.
- Strong performances against UAE and Pakistan highlight his skill.
- India leads in both Test and T20I bowlers’ rankings.
Dubai, Sep 17 (NationPress) Indian spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has ascended to the pinnacle of the ICC's latest T20I bowlers rankings, taking over from New Zealand's Jacob Duffy. This marks a significant milestone for Chakaravarthy, as he has moved up three positions to achieve this ranking for the first time in his career. Notably, he becomes only the third Indian bowler, alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi, to reach the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I bowlers’ rankings.
The 34-year-old showcased an impressive performance against the UAE during India's Asia Cup 2025 campaign opener, where he recorded outstanding bowling figures of 1-4 in just two overs, while senior spinner Kuldeep Yadav dominated the opposition's batting lineup.
In a subsequent match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Chakaravarthy took one wicket in his four-over spell, conceding only 24 runs and maintaining an economical rate of 6.00.
India currently leads both the Test and T20I bowlers’ rankings, with Jasprit Bumrah comfortably holding the title of the No. 1 bowler in the red-ball format.
Additionally, Kuldeep Yadav has made a significant leap in the rankings, climbing a remarkable 16 positions to the 23rd spot as he spearheads India's spin attack in the ongoing Asia Cup.
Among other notable movers, Adam Zampa of Australia rose one spot to fourth, while Nuwan Thushara from Sri Lanka surged six places to claim the sixth position. Abrar Ahmed from Pakistan improved by 11 spots, landing at 16th, and Sufiyan Muqeem ascended four spots to reach the 11th position.
Turning to the batter’s rankings, Abhishek Sharma continues to reign at the top with a career-high rating of 884. English batters Phil Salt and Jos Buttler each moved up one place to occupy the second and third ranks, respectively.
Meanwhile, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav slipped one position to seventh, as Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka took over the sixth spot. Dewald Brevis, following some explosive performances, is close to breaking into the top 10, currently sitting at 11th.
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