Varun Chakaravarthy Becomes World No. 1 T20I Bowler For First Time. India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakaravarthy, has reached a significant achievement, as he has now been ranked as the No. 1 bowler in the ICC Men’s T20I bowling rankings for the first time in his career.
His rise comes after being rewarded for his economical and consistent spells during India’s journey in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, held in the United Arab Emirates. He produced phenomenal spells in India’s first two matches of the tournament, notably taking a commanding 1 for 4 in two overs against the UAE and 1 for 24 in four overs against Pakistan. His cumulative performances helped him surpass New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy as the top bowler, a position he had held since March.
Now at 34 years old, Chakaravarthy is a member of the elite Indian trio to have reached T20I’s top No. 1 bowler, including Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi. He had previously reached his best position earlier in 2025 at a ranking of No. 2 before claiming the No. 1 spot.
Current ICC Top 5 T20I Bowlers
| Rank | Player | Country | Rating Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varun Chakaravarthy | India | 733 |
| 2 | Jacob Duffy | New Zealand | 717 |
| 3 | Akeal Hosein | West Indies | 707 |
| 4 | Adam Zampa | Australia | 700 |
| 5 | Adil Rashid | England | 696 |
The new rankings also reflect changes among other bowlers: Akeal Hosein (West Indies) continues to sit in the top three, while Adam Zampa (Australia) has crept up a spot to fourth. Other bowlers—including some spinners out of Sri Lanka and Pakistan—are also on the list.
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Being No. 1 will mean additional pressure for Chakaravarthy. Maintaining momentum, managing workload, and successfully competing in pressure-packed matches will ultimately be the action behind Chakaravarthy to remain at No. 1. For now, however, he can literally enjoy the pinnacle of success.