Varun Chakravarthy recently rose to the top of the T20I bowling rankings, which is everything we love about cricket stories that keep us either turning the page or reading and debating online. The 34-year-old mystery spinner, at one point, was on the fringes of selection, and how suddenly he’s the world No.1 feels part skill, part timing, and part persistence. Let’s tease apart how he got here and why it may be more important than a headline.
The comeback story
Chakravarthy’s path to regaining relevance for India wasn’t a linear one. Following a rough negotiation in 2021, Chakravarthy reinvented himself in franchise leagues and the domestic game by trying to address predictability and work on his variations. When added back into the squad later in 2024, Chakravarthy set about to justify his recall by consistently trying to bowl economical spells and creating pressure while collecting wickets. Since being recalled, he has taken an incredible number of wickets that transitioned a reset into a long period of quality cricket played, and those results have given him a stronger case with the Selectors for selection. This is important to note because it means Chakravarthy is only the third Indian to reach the top of the T20I wicket-keepers, with Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi.
Why the timing matters
The obvious backdrop for Chakravarthy’s rise is the Asia Cup and a strong setting for 2025. He’s returned puny with the ball in the tournament up until this point, including a tidy spell against the UAE and an excellent four-over spell versus Pakistan, which helped retard momentum and break partnerships. Those Asia Cup performances added to an already fruitful season, built points in the rankings quickly, and showed that the performances are not just a flash in the pan, as extended performances do still impact T20 rankings.
What this means for India and the T20 landscape
From a tactical standpoint, India has the advantage of an extra chess piece in Chakravarthy. The types of variation he produces will force captains to set fields and rotate bowlers differently, and he brings balance to an attack already filled with pace and variation. To pass others in the top bowlers at the top of the rankings at a time of heavy international scheduling highlights the rapid changes in positions that occur within a tournament’s limited number of games. For franchises and opponents in planning, the lesson is simple: a solid mystery spinner that is economical while still taking wickets is an asset in international or league matches, which has a premium value.
To conclude, Chakravarthy’s rise serves as a testament to the adage that skill and adaptability prevail in T20s. Captains will get a clear match-up advantage, balancing him in the attack with pace, and batters will be required to work through a strategy specific to his variations. This scenario also re-aligns the fantasy and franchise thinking and context because when a bowler is on form and sustained performance is factored, the priority of the draft changes the player-building and team-building decisions.
This is a personal validation and a concrete strategic boost for India with this No. 1 ranking. It rewards determination, development, and the skill of subtle change. Will Chakravarthy hold the position as surfaces and variations change? That makes the next couple of months a must-watch for cricket fans. Please share your thoughts and predictions below.
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