Varun Chakravarthy takes India to the top of T20I rankings

India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy has claimed the No. 1 spot in the ICC T20I bowling rankings, climbing three places to overtake New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy in the latest update published on Wednesday (September 17).

With this feat, Varun created history — as only two other Indian bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi, had ever topped the T20I bowling rankings before him.

Despite being dropped from the Indian team after the 2021 T20 World Cup, the 34-year-old has staged a remarkable comeback. Under new head coach Gautam Gambhir, Varun’s role in the side has grown significantly, and consistent performances have cemented his place.

His 2024 form has been outstanding. Against England in the five-match series, he bagged 14 wickets, and he has carried that momentum into the Asia Cup. Against hosts UAE, he delivered figures of 1 for 4, while against Pakistan he conceded just 24 runs and picked up a wicket. These impactful performances propelled him to the top of the global rankings.

In the latest standings, Jacob Duffy has slipped to No. 2, followed by West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein at No. 3. Australia’s Adam Zampa holds the No. 4 position, while England’s Adil Rashid is ranked fifth.