CRICKET RECORDS | Top 20 Bowlers with most wickets in T20 Internationals

Twenty20 international (T20) is considered one of the most entertaining formats of cricket. Since its induction in 2005 onto the international stage, the shortest version of the game has forced cricketers to shift to a more explosive style of play, both in hitting and wicket-taking. And with batsmen always looking for opportunities to hit tremendous, bowlers have adapted as well. They not only need to be accurate but also be fast, economical, and, more importantly, have a wicket-taking ability in pressure situations. Here’s the complete list of bowlers who have the most wickets in T20 Internationals:

Complete list of top 20 bowlers with most wickets in t20

Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan) | 74 Wickets

Afghani cricketer Mohammad Nabi is at the 14th place in this list of most wickets in T20 internationals. Nabi has picked 74 wickets in 88 T20 matches for Afghanistan. The 35-year-old all-rounder has played a crucial role both as a cricketer and as a captain during Afghanistan’s rise as a cricketing nation.

Tim Southee (New Zealand) | 111 Wickets

In a list dominated by bowlers from Asia, Tim Southee is one of the few exceptions to feature on the list of highest wicket taker in T20. In 92 matches, Southee has picked up 111 wickets for the Black Caps. Southee was the only Kiwi to feature on the ‘Team of the Tournament’ of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup after picking 18 wickets in the event.

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Henry Dockrell (Ireland) | 76 Wickets

No, this is not a mistake! Irish slow left-arm orthodox bowler Henry Dockrell has picked 75 wickets in 93 matches for Cricket Ireland to feature in this list of bowlers with the most wickets in T20 Internationals. The 28-year-old had his most impressive moments during the ICC World T20 Championships 2010. Dockrell picked four wickets including a marvellous 3/16 in his four overs against West Indies.

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) | 105 Wickets

Twenty-three-year-old Rashid Khan is the youngest among other highest wicket takers in T20 internationals. The recently appointed captain of Afghanistan cricket team has picked 105 wickets in 58 matches. At this rate, there is no doubt that the young spinner will go on to soon become the top wicket-taker in T20 Internationals. Rashid Khan also eclipsed other legendary spinners in Wisden’s T20I team of the decade:

Wisden’s T20I team of the decade: 
Aaron Finch (capt)
Colin Munro
Virat Kohli
Shane Watson
Glenn Maxwell
Jos Buttler (wk)
Mohd Nabi
David Willey
Rashid Khan
Jasprit Bumrah
Lasith Malinga

The side has no MS Dhoni or Rohit Sharma 🤔🤔

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 30, 2019

Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) | 85 Wickets

Entering the top 10 highest wicket takers in T20 international cricket, Pakistan bowler Saeed Ajmal finds his place at the 8th spot. The right-arm off breaker has picked 85 wickets in 64 matches in his six-year-long T20 international career. During his prime in 2012, Ajmal was ranked one in the ICC T20 bowler ratings.

Most Wickets in T20 | Umar Gul (Pakistan) | 85 Wickets

Just like his name, Umar Gul (which roughly translates to ‘Age Disappears’ in Hindi) has been representing the ‘Shaheens’ for a long time now! The right-arm medium pacer has performed well in the shortest format of the game with having picked 85 wickets in 64 matches.

Gul has had many impressive spells for Pakistan in T20I. However, the 3/6 against New Zealand in 2009 is regarded as his best. He is one of the greatest bowler in history of cricket and holds 7th spot in most t20 wickets list.

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Highest Wicket Taker in T20 – Shakib Al Hassan (Bangladesh) | 119 Wickets

By far one of the best Bangladeshi players in recent times, Shakib Al Hassan is the only player from the Tigers to feature as the highest wicket takers in T20 internationals. With 119 wickets in 96 matches, Shakib could soon go on top of the record books.

However, Shakib will have to wait before trying to do so due to his two-year ban from international cricket. Shakib holds various cricketing records. Shakib holds a unique record to be named as the best all rounder across all three formats at the same time.

Most Wickets in T20 | Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 98 Wickets

‘Boom Boom Afridi’ sits on the 5th spot of the list of the highest wicket takers in T20 internationals. Despite all of his controversies off the pitch and his Twitter battles with Gautam Gambhir, the all-rounder has picked 98 wickets for Pakistan in 99 T20 Internationals.

Afridi’s highest performance with the ball in T20 internationals came against the Netherlands when he picked four wickets while conceding 11 runs. After a long, illustrious career, Afridi hanged his boots in February 2017.

Most Wickets in T20 | Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) | 107 Wickets

It is hard to identify a unique trait about Lasith Malinga, simply because he has too many of them! What would you choose – his hair, his action- ‘Slinga’ or his wicket-taking ability! The Sri Lankan is the only bowler to have picked over 100 wickets in T20 internationals.

While representing the Lions, Malinga picked up 107 wickets in 84 matches. His ability to deliver consistent yorkers and pick wickets made him one of the most feared bowlers. After a long distinguished career, Malinga retired recently in November 2019.

It is an astonishing fact that no Indian bowlers feature in top ten bowlers list of most wickets in t20. The closest Indian with the most wickets is Yuzvendra Chahal with 68 wickets in 54 T20 international matches. Following him are Jasprit Bumrah (67 wickets in 57 matches).

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