In a format dominated by batters, it’s quite important to have skilled bowlers on the team. And if the teams are participating in the T20 World Cup, then bowlers are the key to clinching the trophy.
Bowlers equipped with effective variations and strategies have troubled the batters in the T20 tournament. The World Cup has witnessed many bowlers turn the matches on their heads by picking up wickets at crucial stages.
In this article, we’ll list the top 10 bowlers with the most wickets in T20 World Cup history.
Most Wickets in T20 World Cup
| Player | Innings | Wickets | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) | 41 | 50 | 20.12 |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 34 | 39 | 23.25 |
| Lasith Malinga (SL) | 31 | 38 | 20.07 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (SL) | 19 | 37 | 11.72 |
| Rashid Khan (AFG) | 23 | 37 | 14.89 |
| Adam Zampa (AUS) | 21 | 36 | 13.69 |
| Saeed Ajmal (PAK) | 23 | 36 | 16.86 |
| Tim Southee (NZ) | 25 | 36 | 17.91 |
| Anrich Nortje (SA) | 19 | 35 | 11.40 |
| Ajantha Mendis (SL) | 21 | 35 | 15.02 |
Key Insights
Shakib Al Hasan is the leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history. He became the first bowler to take 50 wickets in the tournament.
Anrich Nortje’s bowling average of 9.90 is the lowest among the bowlers with 20 or more wickets in the T20 competition. He also has the best bowling strike, as he scalps a wicket after every 11th delivery (11.05).
Arshdeep Singh and Fazalhaq Farooqi have picked up the most wickets in a single T20 World Cup edition. The Indian and Afghani pacemen took 17 wickets each in 8 innings in the 2024 edition.
Ajantha Mendis delivered the best bowling figures in a T20 World Cup match. The Sri Lankan mystery spinner rattled Zimbabwe’s 6 wickets by conceding only 8 runs in 2012.
10 bowlers have taken 5 or more wickets in an innings in the T20 tournament’s history.
