Varun Chakravarthy Loses T20I Top Spot After World Cup Disappointment
Varun Chakravarthy’s time as the number one ranked T20I bowler has come to a sudden stop following a disappointing performance in the recent World Cup held at home. Despite taking 14 wickets and being one of the tournament’s leading wicket-takers, he has been replaced at the top by Rashid Khan.
Varun, who reached the summit of the rankings in September 2025 after an impressive run, had been the best bowler until March 11. His World Cup journey started strong, with nine wickets in the first four games. However, he struggled during the Super 8 stages, and his challenges continued into the semi-final and final against England and New Zealand.
In the semi-final match in Mumbai, Varun gave up 64 runs in four overs while managing to take just one wicket. During the final in Ahmedabad, he conceded 39 runs in three overs but did manage to dismiss Tim Seifert, a crucial player for the opposing team. Overall, Varun concluded the tournament having allowed 287 runs over 31 overs, resulting in an economy rate of 9.25 and an average of 20.5.
In the rankings update, Jasprit Bumrah, who played a key role in India’s final victory with outstanding figures of four wickets for 15 runs, moved up to sixth place. Like Varun, Bumrah also took 14 wickets but with a much better average, showcasing his effectiveness with an economy rate of 6.21. Axar Patel also saw progress, climbing six spots to 17th after finishing with 11 wickets in seven matches.
Hardik Pandya and Sikandar Raza in a Tight Race
Meanwhile, the competition for the top spot in the T20I all-rounders rankings remains intense. Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza and India’s Hardik Pandya are currently in a neck-and-neck battle. Raza leads with 328 rating points, while Hardik trails just behind with 299.
Mitchell Santner also had a successful update, reaching a personal best and moving up three spots to ninth in the all-rounder rankings. Additionally, England’s Will Jacks soared five places to 13th thanks to his impressive performances throughout the tournament.
As the cricketing world watches closely, both Varun and Hardik will look to bounce back and reclaim their places at the top in future matches.
