The Super-8 round of T20 World Cup 2026 has started, from where the race for the semi-finals has started. There are a total of 8 teams in this round including India, Pakistan, South Africa, among which 12 matches will be played. While the battle for the semi-finals has started between the teams, the scope of which bowler will take the most wickets in the tournament has also narrowed. While all the bowlers had this opportunity in the group stage, now only a few bowlers will be able to stake claim for it in the Super-8. In this matter, Team India’s spinner Varun Chakraborty has a chance to become number-1 and he can do this feat in Ahmedabad itself.
Team India will start its campaign in the Super-8 round from Sunday 22nd February, when it will face South Africa. Team India’s Indian spinner Varun Chakraborty will have a chance in the very first match, when he can become the highest wicket taker bowler or can become joint number-1. At present, America’s fast bowler Shadley Van Schalkwyk, who has surprised everyone in this matter, is at number one, who took 13 wickets in 4 matches.
Now the question is, how far is Varun Chakraborty from becoming number-1? Varun has played all 4 matches of the group stage so far and has taken a total of 9 wickets in them. The Indian spinner has bowled a total of 12 overs and taken 9 wickets with an excellent average of 6.88. His economy rate is also only 5.16. Now if they want to overtake Shelwick in the very next match, they will have to take 5 wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Even if he takes 4 wickets, on the basis of better average, he will become number-1 even if he has the same number of wickets as Shelwick.
However, Varun has a chance to play 3 matches in the Super-8 round. In such a situation, he can go far ahead. But he is going to face tough competition in this race, because there are 4 such bowlers very close to him who will play in the Super-8. The first in this is Zimbabwe’s fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani, who has taken 9 wickets in just 3 matches.
After this, there is Pakistan’s spinner Usman Tariq, Zimbabwe’s paceman Brad Evans and South African fast bowler Lungi Ngidi. Only these three have 8-8 wickets. In this too, except Tariq, all the other three bowlers along with Varun are in Group-1 of the Super-8 round. In such a situation, the next few days are going to be very special for the bowlers’ race.