Varun Chakravarthy Climbs to Fifth in T20I Rankings, Rashid Reclaims No.1 Spot
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Synopsis
In a remarkable turn of events, Varun Chakravarthy ascends to the fifth position in the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings after his stunning performance against England, while Adil Rashid reclaims the top spot.
Key Takeaways
- Varun Chakravarthy rises to fifth in T20I rankings.
- Adil Rashid regains the top position.
- Chakravarthy's five-wicket haul in Rajkot was remarkable.
- Tilak Varma is close to overtaking Travis Head in T20I batting rankings.
- Pakistan's Noman Ali climbs in Test rankings.
Dubai, Jan 29 (NationPress) India's enigmatic spinner Varun Chakravarthy has achieved an impressive milestone in the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings, soaring 25 positions to claim the fifth spot after a remarkable display against England in the ongoing five-match series.
Chakravarthy's five-wicket haul in Rajkot during the third T20I has been a standout moment of the series, demonstrating his ability to perplex batsmen with his variations and precision.
His exceptional performance was crucial for India, despite the team narrowly losing the match by 26 runs. His rise into the top five T20I bowlers highlights his emergence as a formidable force in white-ball cricket.
While Chakravarthy garnered attention, England's veteran spinner Adil Rashid quietly reclaimed the top position in the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings. Rashid's consistent showings in the series, including an economical 1/15 in Rajkot, kept England in contention, now trailing 2-1.
Rashid's return to the top at 36 years old underscores his longevity and expertise. He initially secured the No.1 ranking at the end of 2023, briefly losing it to Akeal Hosein but has now regained it, affirming his ongoing relevance in the shortest format.
Jofra Archer, England’s dynamic fast bowler, also made significant advancements, jumping 13 spots to seize the sixth position in the rankings. Archer's two wickets in Rajkot illustrated his capability to perform in crucial situations, complementing Rashid's spin brilliance. Meanwhile, India's Axar Patel is edging closer to the top 10, rising five spots to 11th.
In the T20I batting rankings, India's emerging talent Tilak Varma is approaching Travis Head of Australia for the No.1 position. Varma's scores of 19*, 72*, and 18 in the ongoing series have propelled him to second place, just 23 points behind Head.
With a current tally of 832 points, Varma's score is the fourth-highest by an Indian batter in T20I rankings, trailing only Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. If he surpasses Head in the remaining two matches, Varma will become the youngest player to reach the top of the T20I batting rankings, surpassing Babar Azam's record.
In addition to Varma, Abhishek Sharma has also shone for India, making a substantial leap of 59 spots to reach 40th. England's Liam Livingstone (up to 32nd) and Ben Duckett (up to 68th) also experienced significant movements, reflecting the strong performances from both teams in this high-stakes series.
The latest ICC rankings also saw updates in the Test format following the completion of the Pakistan-West Indies series, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Noman Ali climbed four places to secure the fifth spot in the Test bowling rankings after an impressive 10-wicket haul in Multan, marking him as the 12th Pakistan bowler to exceed the 800-point milestone in Test bowling.
West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican was another notable mover, ascending 16 spots to 25th after his Player of the Series performance. Warrican’s 19 wickets throughout the series reaffirmed his status as a rising star in Test cricket, and he also moved up to 24th in the Test all-rounder rankings.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah remains at the top of the Test bowling rankings, building on his exceptional performances during the Australia series. Meanwhile, England veteran Joe Root continues to lead the Test batting rankings, showcasing his unmatched consistency.
