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 | Innings | Wickets | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpesh Ramjani (UGA) | 30 | 55 | 2023 |
| Rizwan Butt (BHR) | 29 | 50 | 2025 |
| Henry Ssenyondo (UGA) | 30 | 49 | 2023 |
| Ehsan Khan (HKG) | 26 | 46 | 2024 |
| Yalinde Nkanya (TAN) | 26 | 45 | 2022 |
| Umair Tariq (AUT) | 24 | 45 | 2025 |
| Martin Akayezu (RWN) | 36 | 42 | 2023 |
| Junaid Siddique (UAE) | 25 | 40 | 2024 |
| Ali Dawood (BHR) | 27 | 40 | 2025 |
| Josh Little (IRE) | 26 | 39 | 2022 |
Key Insights
Since gaining T20I status, Uganda’s team has been making noise at the international level. And the players are also leaving no stone unturned with their impressive individual performances. 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 scalps in a year in T20Is, going past the mark for Bahrain in 2025.
Ireland’s Josh Little has taken the most T20I wickets in a calendar year among full-member bowlers, returning with 39 scalps in 2022.
Austria’s Umair Tariq has the best bowling strike rate in a calendar year in T20Is, having taken a wicket after every 9.1 balls in 2025 (minimum 30 wickets).
Tanzania’s Yalinde Nkanya has the lowest economy rate in a calendar year, giving away 4.25 runs per over in 26 innings in 2022.
Nkanya also has the lowest bowling average, with his 45 wickets coming at 8.60 in 2022.
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga (2021 & 2022) and Bahrain’s Butt (2024 & 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.
Austria’s Aqib Iqbal has picked up the most T20I wickets as a captain in a calendar year, racking up 39 scalps in 2025.
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