India’s Varun Chakravarthy has climbed to the top of the ICC T20I bowling rankings, becoming the world’s No. 1 bowler in the format. The International Cricket Council confirmed the update on Wednesday, September 17, just two days before India’s final group-stage encounter against Oman.
Chakravarthy surged three places to dethrone New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy from the top position, thanks to his consistent excellence in T20 internationals. He now joins an elite list as only the third Indian bowler to achieve the No. 1 T20I ranking, following in the footsteps of Jasprit Bumrah and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi.
Since Gautam Gambhir took charge of the Indian T20I side, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has become a key figure in the lineup. Representing the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL, he has delivered standout performances in almost every series he has featured in.
After being dropped following India’s disappointing 2021 T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE, Varun has made a remarkable comeback, enjoying significant success in his second stint with the national team. The 34-year-old has showcased his skill and consistency through a series of impressive displays, which have propelled him past New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy in the ICC T20I bowling rankings.
Varun Chakravarthy Stars In 2025, Shines In England Series And Asia Cup
The year 2025 has been outstanding for Varun Chakravarthy. In the five-match T20I series against England earlier this year, he claimed 14 wickets, playing a key role in India’s dominant performances ahead of the Champions Trophy. He has continued his fine form in the Asia Cup, picking up two wickets in as many matches against the UAE and Pakistan.
Chakravarthy took 1/4 in India’s tournament opener against the hosts and followed it up with a strong 1/24 from four overs in the convincing win over Pakistan four days later. These performances propelled him up three spots to reach the No. 1 position in the T20I bowling rankings for the first time in his career.
In the rankings, New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy slipped to second, while West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein held third place. Australia’s Adam Zampa and England’s Adil Rashid occupy fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
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