India’s spinner Varun Chakravarthy has risen to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, solidifying his position as the best T20I bowler in the world. This achievement marks him as only the third Indian bowler to hold the No. 1 ranking, following Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi.
Chakravarthy’s rise to the top comes after consistent strong performances, particularly in 2025, including a standout showing at the Asia Cup. He claimed two wickets in his first two matches against the UAE and Pakistan, which helped him jump three spots to the top position. His figures of 1/4 against the UAE and 1/24 against Pakistan further cemented his place at No. 1.
In addition to Chakravarthy’s ascent, there was significant movement in the T20I rankings. New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy dropped to second, while West Indies’ Akeal Hosein remained in third. Australia’s Adam Zampa moved up to fourth. Pakistani spinners Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed also saw improvements, with Muqeem rising four places to 11th and Abrar advancing 11 spots to 16th. India’s Kuldeep Yadav made a notable jump of 16 places to 23rd.
The rankings also saw some movement in the T20I batters’ list, with India’s Abhishek Sharma maintaining his No. 1 spot, although England’s Phil Salt and Jos Buttler made gains to keep the pressure on. Additionally, Pakistan’s Saim Ayub saw an upward movement, rising four places to equal fifth in the T20I all-rounder rankings.
Chakravarthy’s achievement marks a significant milestone in his career, as he continues to shine as one of the premier bowlers in T20I cricket.
