India’s mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, has reached the pinnacle of T20I bowling, becoming the world’s No. 1 T20I bowler in the ICC Men’s Player Rankings for the first time in his career. At 34, he becomes only the third Indian bowler to achieve this milestone, following in the footsteps of Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi.
Impressive Performances Propel Chakravarthy to Top
Chakravarthy’s rise to the top came after standout performances against the UAE (1/4) and Pakistan (1/24), which saw him jump three spots. His previous best ranking was second, achieved in February 2025. The Indian spinner displaced Jacob Duffy of New Zealand, who had held the top spot since March.
The ICC praised Chakravarthy for his consistent performances throughout 2025, which helped him secure the No. 1 ranking.
Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel Make Significant Moves
In addition to Chakravarthy’s achievement, there were notable improvements in other Indian players’ rankings. Kuldeep Yadav saw a significant rise, jumping 16 places to No. 23 in the T20I bowler rankings. Meanwhile, Axar Patel, the spin all-rounder, moved up one spot to No. 12.
Jasprit Bumrah, who has been a mainstay in India’s bowling attack, also improved his position, rising four spots to No. 40.
Abhishek Sharma Continues Dominance in T20 Batting Rankings
In the batting rankings, Abhishek Sharma continues to dominate, maintaining his position at the top of the T20 rankings. His explosive innings against the UAE (30 off 16 balls) and Pakistan (31 off 13 balls) helped him achieve a career-high rating of 884 points, further consolidating his position.
Sharma’s opening partner, Shubman Gill, made a strong move up the rankings, climbing four places to No. 39. However, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav both experienced slight drops. Tilak fell two spots to No. 4, while Suryakumar dropped one place to No. 7. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was not included in the Asia Cup squad, slipped two places to No. 13.
England’s Phil Salt and Jos Buttler Climb the T20 Rankings
Across the globe, England’s opening pair of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler made notable gains in the rankings after stellar performances in their recent T20 match against South Africa. Salt’s brilliant 141 off 60 balls* in the second T20 brought him closer to reclaiming the No. 1 spot, while Buttler’s 83 off 30 balls earned him a career-high 794 rating points and moved him into the top three for the first time.
The latest ICC rankings reflect the exciting and ever-evolving nature of the global T20 game, with key players making significant strides in their respective categories.
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