India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy became the No 1 bowler in the world in T20Is, following a couple of wickets in the two matches in the Asia Cup thus far, while Kuldeep Yadav, the wrist spinner, who was Player of the Match in both games, gained big time.
India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy became the World No 1 bowler in T20Is in the latest ICC rankings. Chakravarthy, who has been on a steady rise since his return to the national side from the Bangladesh series onwards, took a couple of wickets in the first two matches of the ongoing Asia Cup for India and achieved his career-best rating points of 733, earning a three-spot jump. Chakravarthy displaced Kiwi pacer Jacob Duffy from the top after a period of five months.
On the other hand, Chakravarthy’s spin partner in the Asia Cup, Kuldeep Yadav, rose 16 places to 23rd spot. Kuldeep has been extraordinary for India in the ongoing Asia Cup, being the leading wicket-taker, having dismissed seven batters in two matches and was adjudged the Player of the Match in both games. The third spinner, Axar Patel, who picked a couple of wickets against Pakistan, also moved up a spot to 12th.
Not just Indian players, Pakistani bowlers too made a few good strides, spinners, in particular. Sufiyan Muqueem climbed four spots to be just ahead of Axar Patel at 11th, while Abrar Ahmed jumped 11 places to find himself in the 16th spot. Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad also earned a handy jump of eight spots to 25th, among other gainers from the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Thushara got into the top 10, with a rise of six places.
England leg-spinner Adil Rashid slipped down to No 5, but Jofra Archer, who made South African batters jump and got the ball to hoop around, also jumped three spots to No 13. Among all-rounders, Pakistan opener Saim Ayub, following three wickets in India, got into the top five in T20Is, jumping four places.