From architecture dreams to cricketing glory — how India’s mystery spinner rose to the top of the ICC T20I bowling rankings.
At 34, Varun Chakravarthy has achieved what many dream of — becoming the No. 1 T20I bowler in the world. In a country full of young cricketing prodigies, his journey stands out not just for its success, but for how late and unlikely it seemed.
Before turning to professional cricket, Varun was on a completely different path. A qualified architect, he spent his early years designing buildings rather than bowling deliveries. He even considered working in the film industry before finally committing to cricket full-time — a decision that came only at the age of 26.
Chakravarthy’s cricketing journey was just as unconventional. In school, he kept wickets. Later, he switched to medium pace before finally reinventing himself as a mystery spinner — a role in which he now thrives. His unique bowling style, featuring variations like the carrom ball and the googly, has baffled some of the best batters in the world.
His performances in the 2025 Asia Cup were instrumental in his rise to the top of the ICC rankings. He took 1 for 4 against the UAE and 1 for 24 in a pressure game against Pakistan — performances that helped him surpass New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy to claim the No. 1 spot in T20Is.
Varun made his T20I debut for India in July 2021 against Sri Lanka, and his ODI debut came more recently, in February 2025 against England. He was one of the standout bowlers in IPL 2024, finishing second on the Purple Cap list with 21 wickets, just behind the tournament’s top wicket-taker.
In domestic cricket, especially the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Chakravarthy has been consistently dominant. Over the last two seasons, he has taken more wickets than any other spinner in the competition.
So far, he has taken 35 wickets in 20 T20 internationals, and 10 wickets in just 4 ODIs — a remarkable return for someone who started late and had to break into a competitive Indian bowling setup.
As India continues its Asia Cup campaign, Varun Chakravarthy’s story serves as an inspiration — proving that it’s never too late to dream, and even less so to dominate.
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