India's preparations for defending their T20 World Cup crown have received a monumental boost with spinner Varun Chakaravarthy achieving a historic personal milestone. The mystery spinner has climbed to the summit of the ICC Men's T20I Bowler Rankings, entering uncharted territory at the very top.
A Meteoric Rise to the Top
The right-arm spinner has surged to a career-best rating of 818 points, further consolidating his position as the world's number one bowler in the shortest format. This remarkable ascent has been powered by his consistently incisive performances in the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa on home soil.
Chakaravarthy has claimed six wickets across the first three matches, recording three successive two-wicket hauls. His most impactful spell came in Dharamsala, where figures of 2 for 11 from four overs were instrumental in India's emphatic seven-wicket victory. This dominant form has translated directly into ranking points, propelling him to the pinnacle.
Commanding Lead and Historic Entry
With his 818 rating points, Chakaravarthy now enjoys a commanding lead of 119 points over the second-placed bowler, New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy, who sits on 699. This gap underscores his current dominance in the format.
Furthermore, the 34-year-old Indian spinner has broken into an elite list. He has entered the top 10 for the best rating ever achieved by any T20I bowler in history. This significant milestone highlights his growing influence and peak performance at the international level. He now finds himself in the company of legends like Umar Gul, Samuel Badree, and Rashid Khan on the all-time high ratings list.
Perfect Timing for World Cup Defence
The timing of Chakaravarthy's peak form is ideal for the Indian team. They are less than two months away from defending the T20 World Cup title they clinched in Barbados last year. With tournament conditions in the West Indies and USA, and historically spin-friendly tracks in the latter stages, a confident and top-ranked Chakaravarthy is shaping up as a central figure in India's quest for back-to-back global titles.
India's bowling optimism doesn't end with Chakaravarthy. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh climbed four places to 16th in the T20I bowler rankings after his Player of the Match performance in the third T20I against South Africa. The Proteas also saw gains, with Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, and Ottneil Baartman moving up the ladder.
On the batting front, Tilak Varma moved up two places to fourth in the T20I batter rankings, joining teammate Abhishek Sharma, who continues to hold the top spot. All-rounder Shivam Dube also climbed two spots to 16th in the all-rounders' list.
This collective upward movement in rankings paints a promising picture for the Indian team as they fine-tune their combinations and build momentum ahead of the crucial World Cup campaign, with their premier spinner leading the charge from the front.
