In T20Is, overs 17 to 20 are considered the death overs. And picking up wickets in this part of the game can silence the opposition batting unit, thereby reducing their scoring rate.
In this article, we will list the top ten wicket-takers in death overs in T20I cricket, i.e., the bowlers who have taken the most number of wickets in the overs between 16 and 20.
Most Wickets in Death Overs in T20I Cricket
| BOWLERS | WICKETS | INNINGS | ECON. RATE | AVERAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) | 75 | 104 | 7.90 | 15.72 |
| Tim Southee (NZ) | 65 | 100 | 9.13 | 18.09 |
| Haris Rauf (PAK) | 63 | 76 | 8.40 | 14.92 |
| Chris Jordan (ENG) | 61 | 78 | 9.44 | 18.96 |
| Lasith Malinga (SL) | 57 | 69 | 8.39 | 15.87 |
| Mark Adair (IRE) | 55 | 70 | 9.96 | 17.63 |
| Rashid Khan (AFG) | 54 | 57 | 7.47 | 9.68 |
| Arshdeep Singh (AFG) | 51 | 57 | 9.17 | 15.17 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi (PAK) | 51 | 75 | 8.47 | 16.11 |
| Dwayne Bravo (WI) | 47 | 56 | 8.95 | 15.53 |
Key Insights on Leading Wicket Takers in Death Overs in T20I Cricket
All-Time T20I Wicket Records in Slog Overs
Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman has taken the most wickets in the death overs in T20I cricket.
Mustafizur and Tim Southee are the two bowlers with more than 20 wickets in the 20th over in T20Is.
Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan is the only spinner to take more than 50 wickets in the slog overs in T20Is.
Mustafizur is the only bowler to bowl more than 350 dot balls in the death overs in T20Is.
Exceptional Match and Innings Performances
Finland’s Mahesh Tambe, Austria’s Waqar Zalmai, and Nigeria’s Isaac Okpe have picked up the most wickets in the death overs in a T20I innings. Tambe, Zalmai, and Okpe claimed five wickets each against Estonia, Belgium, and Zambia, respectively, in 2025.
Mustafizur and Southee are also the two bowlers to take more than 30 wickets in the death overs in their home countries in T20Is.
Elite Economy and Average Benchmarks in Death Overs in T20Is
India’s Jasprit Bumrah is the only bowler to maintain an economy rate below seven in the last four overs in T20Is (minimum 50 innings bowled).
Hong Kong’s Ehsan Khan is the only bowler to average below 15 in the death overs in T20Is (minimum 50 innings bowled).
Annual Death Bowling Milestones
Bahrain’s Ali Dawood has claimed the most wickets in the death overs in a calendar year in T20Is. He took 24 scalps in 20 innings in 2025.
India’s Arshdeep Singh is the only bowler to grab 15 or more wickets in the death overs in two years – 16 in 2022 and 17 in 2024.
Exceptional T20I Bowlers in Powerplay & Death Overs
Tim Southee and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the two bowlers with more than 50 wickets in the powerplay and death overs in T20Is.
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