Varun Chakaravarthy‘s economical performances in his team’s opening two Asia Cup games in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have made him the third Indian player to top the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings.
After going one for four in two overs against the UAE and one for 24 in four against Pakistan, the 34-year-old moved up three slots, following in the footsteps of leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.
Varun Chakaravarthy passed Jacob Duffy of New Zealand, who had been leading since March, whose previous best was the second place he had attained in February 2025.
A number of other competitors in the continental event have also advanced significantly. In the most recent weekly update, Nuwan Thushara, a seam bowler for Sri Lanka, rose six spots to sixth place, despite several spinners gaining ground.
The following players have risen in the rankings: Noor Ahmed of Afghanistan (up eight spots to 25th), Axar Patel (up one spot to 12th), Kuldeep Yadav (up 16 places to 23rd), and Sufiyan Muqeem (up four spots to 11th) of Pakistan and Abrar Ahmed (up 11 places to a career-best 16th).
Following their performances in the Asia Cup, fast bowlers Bumrah (up four spots to 40th) and Tanzim Hasan of Bangladesh (up five spots to 42nd) have advanced, while Joffra Archer of England (up three spots to 13th) and Marco Jansen, a left-arm seamer from South Africa (up five spots to 38th) have also advanced.
Abhishek Sharma, the left-handed opener for India, is solidifying his position at the top of the batting rankings. He has gained 55 rating points and reached 884 thanks to his quick innings of 30 off 16 balls against the UAE and 31 off 13 against Pakistan.
Following their outstanding performances in the second Twenty20 International against South Africa in Manchester, England’s opening duo of Phil Salt and Joss Buttler have moved up one spot apiece to second and third place, respectively.
Buttler’s 83 off 30 helped him reach a career-high 794 rating points and make his maiden appearance within the top three, while Salt’s 141 not out off 60 balls—the biggest score and fastest T20I century by an England batter—moved him closer to his career-best No. 1 spot.
The following batters have improved: Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka (up one spot to sixth), Dewald Brevis of South Africa (up two spots to eleventh), Rahmanullah Gurbaz of Afghanistan (up two spots to nineteenth), Mohammad Waseem of the United Arab Emirates (up two spots to twentieth), Aiden Markram of South Africa (up 10 spots to thirty), Shubman Gill of India (up four spots to 39th), and Sahibzada Farhan of Pakistan (up 18 spots to 55th).
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