In T20 it is quite difficult for bowlers to take wickets, today we will have a look at the top 10 highest wicket-takers who took the most wickets in T20 World Cup history.
It’s no secret that the game’s shortest format greatly benefits the batsmen, who typically win games. Bowlers nowadays are better able to adjust to changing circumstances and deal with them.
Most Wickets in T20 World Cup History: Top 10 Highest Wicket Takers
Here is the list of world-class bowlers who are the leading wicket-takers in the history of the World Cup with their match-winning performances.
Batters receive most of the attention for their teams, bowlers are responsible for taking wickets and winning the match that their team wants to win.
1) Shakib Al Hasan – 41 Wickets
Bangladeshi left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan holds the record for most wickets taken in T20 World Cup history. Being one of the best all-rounders, he possesses the ability to alter the course of the game at any moment.
Shakib Al Hasan has played in 31 Twenty20 Internationals for Bangladesh during his T20 World Cup career, which ran from 2007 to 2021. He claimed 41 wickets in those 31 matches, making him the tournament’s greatest wicket-taker.
Additionally, with an average of 17.29 and a best of 4 for 9, he has been able to maintain a strong economy of less than 7 runs per over.
2) Shahid Afridi – 39 Wickets
Shahid Afridi, a former Pakistani all-rounder, is among the leading wicket-takers in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Shahid Afridi is a right-arm leg spinner who participated in the T20 World Cup from 2007 to 2016. During that time, he made 34 appearances for Pakistan and got 39 wickets at an average of 23.25 and an economy of 6.71, which is rather good.
Boom Book Afridi was chosen Man of the Match for his incredible performance of 54 runs without a loss and 1 wicket. Shahid Afridi was instrumental in Pakistan’s team’s victory against Sri Lanka in the 2009 T20 World Cup.
3) Lasith Malinga – 38 Wickets
Lasith Malinga, a former Sri Lankan right-arm pace bowler surely one of the greatest bowlers in T20 history. The yorker delivery of Lasith Malinga, particularly the slow yorker during the final overs, was well-known.
The Sri Lankan bowler Malinga made 31 appearances in 31 games between 2007 and 2014, with 38 wickets at an average of 20.07 and an economy of 7.43 for his country.
Lasith Malinga played his final match in T20I against the West Indies in Pallekele in 2020, having made his debut against England on June 15, 2006, at Southampton.
4) Saeed Ajmal – 36 Wickets
Former Pakistani right-arm off-breaker Saeed Ajmal is among the highest wicket-takers in the history of the T20 World Cup. Between 2009 and 2014, he participated in 23 T20 World Cup matches, taking 36 wickets at an economy of 6.79 and an average of 16.86. His best bowling performance was 4 for 19.
On May 7, 2009, Saeed Ajmal played his first Twenty20 international match at Dubai (DSC) against Pakistan. On April 24, 2015, he played his final Twenty20 match at Mirpur against Bangladesh. He played for Pakistan in 64 Twenty20 Internationals overall, taking 85 wickets at an economy of 6.36.
5) Ajantha Mendis – 35 Wickets
Former Sri Lankan right-arm off-break player Ajantha Mendis participated in 21 Twenty20 World Cup matches, taking 35 wickets at an economy of 6.70 and an average of 15.02.
The veteran spinner Ajantha Mendis also holds the record for the best bowling figures of 6/8 in the T20 World Cup history.
On October 10, 2008, Ajantha Mendis made his Twenty20 debut against Zimbabwe at King City (NW). He had a brilliant game, taking four wickets and winning Man of the Match.
Also Read: Most Sixes in T20 World Cup History
6) Umar Gul – 35 Wickets
Pakistanis fast pacer Umar Gul also known as Guldozer shows his skill in T20Is by taking regular wickets with his toe-crushing Yorkers. Umar Gul holds the record for the second-best bowling figure of 5/6 against New Zealand.
Umar Gul is a dangerous bowler in T20 World Cups because of his ability to regularly hit the Yorker length. The secret to Pakistan’s T20 success has been the pacer’s ability to take wickets at critical points in the game.
7) Ravi Ashwin – 32 Wickets
Ravichandran Ashwin has become a spin wizard in the pace-dominated T20 World Cup, using his skill. Ashwin has outwitted some of the top T20 batters with his variety of strokes and sharp cricketing mind, greatly enhancing India’s T20 campaigns.
8) Wanindu Hasaranga – 31 Wickets
Sri Lankan uprising spinner has amazed the world with his all-rounding performances in the T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, and Cricket World Cup.
Playing the least number of matches and achieving a name in the list of highest wicket-takers of all time in T20 WC is surely an achievement for Hasaranga.
Wanidu Hasaranga has picked 31 wickets just playing 16 T20Is in the World Cup which shows the talent of the Sri Lankan spinner.
9) Dale Steyn – 30 Wickets
Dale Steyn is a nightmare for batsmen in Twenty20 cricket because of his explosive pace and high-velocity ball swing. The South African quick has won matches time and time again, and his achievements in T20 World Cups have cemented his status as one of the best bowlers in the world.
10) Stuart Broad – 30 Wickets
Stuart Broad’s debut in the T20 World Cup didn’t start so well as Yuvraj Singh smashed Stuart Broad for 6 sixes in an over in the first edition of the T20 World Cup. However, Stuart Board came back strongly and is now among the best bowlers England’s cricket team has ever produced.
Conclusion
Many of these world-class bowlers in the list of most wickets taken in the T20 World Cup history have already retired making a space for the new rising stars of cricket.
In the same manner that a batsman is essential to winning a match, bowlers are also accountable for preventing batters from adding to their total. If not, a team’s success cannot be sustained by its batsmen alone.
Also Read: Tamasha to Broadcast T20 World Cup 2024
