In a format dominated by the batters, a few skilled bowlers shine brighter with their incredible performances in T20Is. With T20I cricket gaining a strong foothold across the world, many new talented bowlers have been unearthed.
These bowlers are even giving tough competition to the prominent bowlers from the top teams with their excellent performances throughout the year.
So, in this article, let’s take a look at the top 10 instances of bowlers with the most wickets in a calendar year in T20Is.
Most Wickets in a Calendar Year in T20I
| Player | Team | Innings | Wickets | Economy Rate | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Dawood | Bahrain | 37 | 63 | 5.47 | 2025 |
| Alpesh Ramjani | Uganda | 30 | 55 | 4.77 | 2023 |
| Rizwan Butt | Bahrain | 34 | 55 | 5.89 | 2025 |
| Henry Ssenyondo | Uganda | 30 | 49 | 5.32 | 2023 |
| Umair Tariq | Austria | 27 | 48 | 6.80 | 2025 |
| Ehsan Khan | Hong Kong | 26 | 46 | 6.05 | 2024 |
| Yalinde Nkanya | Tanzania | 26 | 45 | 4.25 | 2022 |
| Aqib Iqbal | Austria | 35 | 43 | 7.01 | 2025 |
| Martin Akayezu | Rwanda | 36 | 42 | 8.26 | 2023 |
| Junaid Siddique | UAE | 25 | 40 | 7.58 | 2024 |
Key Insights on Record-Breaking Wicket Takers in a Year in T20Is
Most T20I Wickets in a Year by Individual Bowlers
Bahrain’s Ali Dawood has picked up the most wickets in a calendar year in T20Is. He had an impressive run in 2025, having taken 63 scalps in 37 innings.
Uganda’s left-arm spinner, Alpesh Ramjani, became the first bowler to pick up 50 or more wickets in a calendar year in T20Is in 2023. Ramjani’s 55 wickets are the most by a spinner in a year.
Rizwan Butt became the first pacer to grab 50 wickets in a year in T20Is, going past the mark for Bahrain in 2025 and getting 55 scalps in 34 outings.
Ireland’s Josh Little has taken the most T20I wickets in a calendar year among full-member bowlers, returning with 39 scalps in 2022.
Indonesia’s Ferdinando Banunaek picked up 33 of his 39 wickets in Indonesia in 2025, the most by a bowler on home soil in a year in T20Is.
Ali Dawood dismissed 50 of his 63 batters outside Bahrain, the most by a bowler in a year in overseas T20Is.
Best T20I Bowling Averages and Efficiency Records in a Year
Austria’s Umair Tariq has the best bowling strike rate in a calendar year in T20Is, having taken a wicket after every 9.7 balls in 2025 (minimum 300 balls bowled).
Germany’s Ghulam Ahmadi has the lowest T20I economy rate in a calendar year, giving away 3.78 runs per over while taking 14 wickets in 13 innings in 2021 (minimum 300 balls bowled).
Tanzania’s Yalinde Nkanya has the lowest T20I bowling average in a year, with his 45 wickets coming at 8.60 in 26 innings in 2022 (minimum 300 balls bowled).
Uganda’s Henry Ssenyondo is the only bowler to take five four-wicket hauls in a year in T20Is, having achieved it in 2023.
Consecutive Milestones and Captaincy Achievements
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga (36 in 2021 & 34 in 2022) and Bahrain’s Rizwan Butt (31 in 2024 & 55 in 2025) are the only two bowlers who have picked up 30 or more wickets in two consecutive years in T20Is.
Hasaranga is the only one who has taken 30-plus wickets in three calendar years in the shortest format, with 2024 being the other year (38 scalps).
Austria’s Aqib Iqbal has picked up the most T20I wickets as a captain in a calendar year, racking up 43 scalps in 35 innings in 2025.
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