T20 cricket has revolutionized the sport with its fast-paced nature and high-scoring matches. In this format, bowlers face immense pressure to contain runs while taking wickets.
This article explores the remarkable achievements of bowlers in T20 International cricket, highlighting the most successful wicket-takers across various categories.
Let’s get started.
Most Wickets In T20 Cricket
The T20 format has seen several bowlers master the art of taking wickets consistently. Leading the pack is New Zealand’s Tim Southee, who has claimed 164 wickets in 126 matches.
Here are the top 20 wicket-takers in T20I cricket:
| Player | Team | Span | Mat | Inns | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Econ | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TG Southee | New Zealand | 2008-2024 | 126 | 123 | 458.5 | 7 | 3671 | 164 | 5/18 | 8.00 | 2 | 2 |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 2015-2024 | 93 | 93 | 353.2 | 1 | 2149 | 152 | 5/3 | 6.08 | 7 | 2 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 2006-2024 | 129 | 126 | 457.3 | 3 | 3117 | 149 | 5/20 | 6.81 | 6 | 2 |
| IS Sodhi | New Zealand | 2014-2024 | 117 | 112 | 396.3 | 0 | 3171 | 138 | 4/28 | 7.99 | 3 | 0 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 2015-2024 | 106 | 105 | 379.4 | 8 | 2854 | 132 | 6/10 | 7.51 | 3 | 2 |
| MR Adair | Ireland | 2019-2024 | 88 | 88 | 316.2 | 2 | 2437 | 127 | 4/13 | 7.70 | 4 | 0 |
| AU Rashid | England | 2009-2024 | 116 | 112 | 408.2 | 4 | 2994 | 122 | 4/2 | 7.33 | 3 | 0 |
| PW Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 2019-2024 | 74 | 72 | 269.0 | 1 | 1883 | 119 | 4/9 | 7.00 | 3 | 0 |
| SO Ngoche | Kenya | 2010-2024 | 97 | 94 | 327.4 | 14 | 1927 | 117 | 4/14 | 5.88 | 3 | 0 |
| MJ Santner | New Zealand | 2015-2024 | 104 | 102 | 359.0 | 2 | 2533 | 115 | 4/11 | 7.05 | 3 | 0 |
| Ehsan Khan | Hong Kong | 2016-2024 | 78 | 77 | 281.5 | 4 | 1710 | 114 | 4/5 | 6.06 | 5 | 0 |
| A Zampa | Australia | 2016-2024 | 92 | 91 | 333.5 | 1 | 2417 | 111 | 5/19 | 7.24 | 2 | 1 |
| Bilal Khan | Oman | 2015-2024 | 79 | 78 | 283.0 | 7 | 1919 | 110 | 4/19 | 6.78 | 3 | 0 |
| S Lamichhane | Nepal | 2018-2024 | 58 | 58 | 219.5 | 7 | 1352 | 108 | 5/9 | 6.15 | 2 | 1 |
| CJ Jordan | England | 2014-2024 | 95 | 94 | 325.3 | 2 | 2847 | 108 | 4/6 | 8.74 | 4 | 0 |
| SL Malinga | Sri Lanka | 2006-2020 | 84 | 83 | 299.5 | 1 | 2225 | 107 | 5/6 | 7.42 | 1 | 2 |
| Shadab Khan | Pakistan | 2017-2024 | 104 | 96 | 348.1 | 3 | 2522 | 107 | 4/8 | 7.24 | 3 | 0 |
| Haris Rauf | Pakistan | 2020-2024 | 72 | 70 | 261.4 | 1 | 2136 | 102 | 4/18 | 8.16 | 3 | 0 |
| Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 2006-2018 | 99 | 97 | 361.2 | 4 | 2396 | 98 | 4/11 | 6.63 | 3 | 0 |
| Karan KC | Nepal | 2015-2024 | 75 | 75 | 245.0 | 6 | 1902 | 97 | 5/21 | 7.76 | 3 | 1 |
Most Wickets In A T20 Series
Some bowlers have dominated the entire series with exceptional performances. Here are the top 10 bowlers with most wickets in a single T20I series:
| Name | Team | Matches | Overs | Wickets | Opponent | BBI | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JO Holder | West Indies | 5 | 18.3 | 15 | England | 5/27 | 9.60 |
| Sami Sohail | Malawi | 7 | 26.0 | 14 | Mozambique | 4/18 | 11.71 |
| C Hinze | Japan | 5 | 13.4 | 13 | Mongolia | 5/6 | 2.38 |
| Karan KC | Nepal | 5 | 16.4 | 13 | Various | 5/21 | 10.92 |
| IS Sodhi | New Zealand | 5 | 19.0 | 13 | Australia | 4/28 | 12.08 |
| Fazil Rahman | Malta | 6 | 21.5 | 13 | Various | 4/15 | 12.15 |
| S Lamichhane | Nepal | 5 | 19.5 | 13 | Various | 4/48 | 12.54 |
| JJ Huo | Mozambique | 6 | 18.0 | 12 | Eswatini | 4/11 | 6.75 |
| Pratik Singh Bais | Mexico | 5 | 20.0 | 12 | Costa Rica | 6/14 | 7.33 |
| S Conteh | Sierra Leone | 6 | 20.0 | 12 | Nigeria | 5/17 | 8.17 |
Most Wickets In A T20 Match
The best bowling figures in T20I history showcase remarkable individual performances. Here are the top 10 bowling performances in a T20I match:
| Name | Team | Wickets | Runs | Maidens | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syazrul Idrus | Malaysia | 7 | 8 | 1 | China | Kuala Lumpur | Jul 26, 2023 |
| H Bharadwaj | Singapore | 6 | 3 | 2 | Mongolia | Bangi | Sep 05, 2024 |
| P Aho | Nigeria | 6 | 5 | 1 | Sierra Leone | Lagos | Oct 24, 2021 |
| DL Chahar | India | 6 | 7 | 0 | Bangladesh | Nagpur | Nov 10, 2019 |
| DM Nakrani | Uganda | 6 | 7 | 1 | Lesotho | Kigali | Oct 19, 2021 |
| BAW Mendis | Sri Lanka | 6 | 8 | 2 | Zimbabwe | Hambantota | Sep 18, 2012 |
| MA Baig | Malawi | 6 | 9 | 0 | Rwanda | Benoni | Dec 16, 2023 |
| JJ Smit | Namibia | 6 | 10 | 1 | Uganda | Windhoek | Apr 10, 2022 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 6 | 10 | 1 | USA | Prairie View | May 25, 2024 |
| A Bohara | Nepal | 6 | 11 | 0 | Maldives | Hangzhou | Oct 01, 2023 |
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Conclusion: Tim Southee’s 164 Wickets Are The Highest In T20 International
The evolution of T20 cricket has seen bowlers adapt and develop new skills to succeed in this challenging format. Tim Southee’s achievement of 164 wickets stands as a testament to consistency and longevity. The remarkable single-match performances, like Syazrul Idrus’s 7/8 against China, show how bowlers can decisively impact T20 matches. As the format continues to evolve, we can expect to see more bowlers pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in T20 cricket.
These records not only highlight individual brilliance but also demonstrate how bowling strategies have evolved in T20 cricket. From express pace to clever variations, successful bowlers have shown that there are many ways to take wickets in this format. The achievements of players from both established and emerging cricket nations indicate the global spread of T20 cricket and the rising standards across all levels of the game.
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