India's mystery spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, has made a sensational leap in the ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings, climbing 25 places to secure the fifth spot following a standout performance against England in the ongoing five-match series.
Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul in Rajkot during the third T20I was the highlight of the series so far, showcasing his ability to bamboozle batters with his variations and precision.
Chakravarthy’s performance was instrumental in India’s efforts, though they narrowly lost the match by 26 runs. His newfound position among the top five T20I bowlers underscores his rise as a significant force in white-ball cricket.
While that made waves, it was in near-silence that England's senior spinner, Adil Rashid, staged a quiet comeback at the top of the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings. His consistent performances throughout the series, including an economical spell of 1/15 in Rajkot, have kept England alive in the series, now trailing 2-1.
Rashid's resurgence at 36 years of age is a testament to his longevity and skill. Having first claimed the No. 1 ranking at the end of 2023, Rashid briefly lost the spot to Akeal Hosein but has now reclaimed it, proving his continued relevance in the shortest format.
Jofra Archer, England's fiery pacer, also showed significant improvement, jumping 13 places to stand at the sixth position. His two wickets in Rajkot demonstrated his ability to deliver on the big day, just as Rashid delivered a spin masterclass. For India, Axar Patel also moved closer to breaking into the top 10, rising five places to the 11th position.
In the T20I batting rankings, India’s rising star, Tilak Varma, is closing in on Australia’s Travis Head for the No. 1 spot. Varma, with scores of 19*, 72*, and 18 in the ongoing series, has climbed to second place, just 23 points behind Head.
Varma’s current tally of 832 points is the fourth-highest by an Indian batter in T20I rankings, behind only Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. Should he surpass Head in the remaining two matches of the series, Varma will become the youngest-ever player to top the T20I batting rankings, surpassing Babar Azam’s record.
Apart from Varma, Abhishek Sharma has been another bright spot for India, making a massive jump of 59 places to reach 40th.
England’s Liam Livingstone (up to 32nd) and Ben Duckett (up to 68th) were also significant movers, highlighting the strong performances of both sides in the high-stakes series.
The latest ICC rankings also saw some changes in the Test format, as the Pakistan-West Indies series concluded 1-1. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali from Pakistan leapt four places to reach the fifth spot in the Test bowling rankings after his 10-wicket haul in Multan. He became the 12th Pakistani bowler to cross the 800-point mark in Test bowling.
West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican was another big gainer, climbing 16 spots to 25th after his Player of the Series performance.
Warrican’s 19 wickets across the series reaffirmed his status as a rising star in Test cricket. He also moved to 24th in the Test all-rounder rankings.
India’s Jasprit Bumrah continues to lead the Test bowling rankings, building on his exceptional performances during the Australia series.
Meanwhile, England veteran Joe Root remains at the pinnacle of Test batting, showcasing his unmatched consistency.
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