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Written by Akash Saha | Edited and fact-checked by Amit Saha | Editorial policy
Bhuvneshwar Kumar: the powerplay king
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has long held the record for the most wickets in the powerplay (overs 1–6) in T20 Internationals, built on two-way swing and an economy below 6 an over with the new ball. He also leads several all-T20 powerplay lists. Left-armers Arshdeep Singh and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the leading active challengers.
Most Powerplay Wickets in T20 Internationals
| # | Bowler | Team | Innings | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India | 74 | 43 | 5.63 |
| 2 | Tim Southee | New Zealand | 71 | 34 | 7.42 |
| 3 | Samuel Badree | West Indies | 50 | 33 | 6.29 |
| 4 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 61 | 29 | 6.65 |
| 5 | Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 62 | 27 | 7.02 |
Most Powerplay Wickets in All T20 Cricket
Including franchise leagues such as the IPL, the PSL and England’s T20 Blast, the leading powerplay wicket-takers are all new-ball seamers, most of them left-armers.
| # | Bowler | Team | Powerplay wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Willey | England | 157 |
| 2 | Trent Boult | New Zealand | 140 |
| 3 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India | 126 |
| 4 | Mohammad Amir | Pakistan | 121 |
| 5 | Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | 116 |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Bhuvneshwar was the first Indian to take a five-wicket haul in all three formats, and his 5/4 against Afghanistan at the 2022 Asia Cup is the only five-for in Asia Cup T20I history. In 2022 he took 37 T20I wickets, an Indian calendar-year record until Arshdeep took 38 in October 2026.
Tim Southee and Samuel Badree
Southee, New Zealand’s leading T20I wicket-taker with 164, swung the new ball both ways. Badree was the outlier: a leg-spinner who opened the bowling for West Indies and was a key part of their 2012 and 2016 T20 World Cup wins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has taken the most powerplay wickets in T20 Internationals?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar of India, who had 43 powerplay wickets in T20Is by September 2022 at an economy of 5.63, well clear of Tim Southee (34).
Who has the most powerplay wickets in all T20 cricket?
England’s David Willey, with 157 powerplay wickets across international and franchise T20 cricket, ahead of Trent Boult (140) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (126).
Who has the most T20I wickets overall?
Rashid Khan of Afghanistan, with 197 T20I wickets as of October 2026.
More: most wickets in T20 cricket · best economy in IPL history · most ODI wickets for New Zealand · records index
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