Categories: Bowling Records

Most Wickets in Powerplay Overs in T20I Cricket

This article provides key insights and records related to the most prolific wicket-takers during the powerplay overs in T20 International cricket.

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Most Wickets in Powerplay Overs in T20Is

Player	Team	Wickets in PP	Innings	Average in PP	Economy in PP
Shaheen Shah Afridi	Pakistan	60	99	23.56	7.16
Tim Southee	New Zealand	58	104	24.68	7.08
Arshdeep Singh	India	53	81	23.33	7.92
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	India	47	83	22.02	5.65
Josh Hazlewood	Australia	46	58	18.13	6.36
Blessing Muzarabani	Zimbabwe	41	60	20.14	6.74
Akeal Hosein	West Indies	40	76	29.70	7.51
Taskin Ahmed	Bangladesh	40	80	25.30	6.92
Kagiso Rabada	South Africa	40	78	28.70	7.70
Jasprit Bumrah	India	38	86	25.28	6.20
Mustafizur Rahman	Bangladesh	38	109	25.39	6.99
Maheesh Theekshana	Sri Lanka	38	78	25.26	7.05

Key Insights on Leading Wicket Takers in T20I Powerplay Overs

Milestones and Records for Taking 50 T20I Powerplay Wickets

New Zealand’s Tim Southee was the first bowler to take 50 wickets in the powerplay overs in T20I cricket.

Southee took 33 of his 58 wickets in New Zealand, the most by a bowler in the powerplay at home in T20Is.

Bigger Picture: See who is the leading wicket-taker in the overall T20Is

Record-Breaking Powerplay Bowling Figures in T20Is

Former Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga has delivered the best bowling figures in the powerplay in a T20I innings. He claimed five wickets for five runs against New Zealand in the 2019 Pallekele T20I.

West Indies’ Oshane Thomas is the other bowler to take a five-wicket haul within the powerplay in a T20I innings. Coincidentally, he delivered his 5 for 28 against Malinga’s Sri Lanka in the 2020 Pallekele T20I.

Efficiency and Dot Ball Prowess in T20I Powerplays

India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the lowest economy rate in the powerplay overs in T20Is (minimum 50 innings). He took 47 wickets at an economy of 5.65 in 83 innings.

Bhuvneshwar has also bowled the most dot balls in the powerplays, having delivered 655 balls for noughts.

Josh Hazlewood (Australia) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) are the two bowlers with an average below 19 in the powerplay phase in T20Is (minimum 50 innings).

Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi has taken around 43 per cent of his powerplay wickets in the first over in T20Is. He is, in fact, the top wicket-taker in the first over in T20Is.

Annual Wicket-Taking Feats and Spinners’ Contribution

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan has picked up the most wickets in the powerplay among spinners in T20Is, with 37 scalps to his name.

Bhuvneshwar has picked up the most powerplay wickets in a calendar year in T20Is. He took 21 powerplay wickets in 30 innings in 2022.

New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy is the other bowler to take 20 wickets in the powerplay in a year in T20Is, having done so across 20 innings in 2025.

India’s Arshdeep Singh is the only bowler to take 14 or more powerplay wickets in two different years in T20Is – 14 in 2022 and 16 in 2024.

Question: Which bowler has picked the most wickets in a calendar year in T20I cricket?

Saurabh Chede

Saurabh is a cricket enthusiast who crafts content around the sport. Being from a cricket-crazy nation, he developed an unbreakable bond with the sport. When he's not watching cricket, you'll find him creating funny memes or watching old TMKOC episodes!