The shortest format of the game has helped the bowlers to produce new variations in their bowling. The new variations have definitely assisted the bowlers to get more wickets in the T20s. The first-ever T20 World Cup was played in 2007 and therefore 5 more World Cups have been played so far. Let’s contemplate the bowlers with the most wickets in T20 World Cup history.
Most Wickets In T20 World Cup
Former Pakistani spinner Shahid Afridi has taken the most number of 39 wickets so far in the T20I World Cup history. Afridi has participated in 6 World cups (2007-2016) for Pakistan. In T20 format he has taken 98 wickets in 99 matches. His economy of 6.71 hints at how hard he was for the batsmen to score in the World Cups. Along with wickets, he has accumulated 546 runs in 32 innings. Afridi played a critical role in winning the 2009 T20 World Cup for Pakistan, in the final, he scored a blistering 54 off 40 balls and grabbed 2 wickets too.
| Matches | wickets | average | strike-rate | Best bowling | economy | 5-wicket haul |
| 34 | 39 | 23.25 | 20.7 | 4/11 | 6.71 | 0 |
Most Wickets In T20I World Cup 2007
Pakistani fast bowler Umar Gul bagged the most number of 13 wickets in the T20I World Cup 2007. Gul had raw pace and the ability to swing the ball with the new and old ball. He was one of them who took Pakistan into the finals of the 2007 T20 World Cup.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-wicket haul |
| 7 | 13 | 11.92 | 12.7 | 4/25 | 5.60 | 0 |
Most Wickets In T20 World Cup 2009
For the second consecutive time, Paksitani pace sensation Umar Gul grabbed the most number of 13 wickets in the T20I World Cup 2009. In the 2009 T20 World Cup Pakistan became the champions and Gul registered the record of being the first bowler to take most wickets in two consecutive T20 World Cups. In that season, he bagged wickets at an average of 12.15, which means he was a frequent wicket-taker for Pakistan.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-wicket haul |
| 7 | 13 | 12.15 | 11.3 | 5/6 | 6.44 | 1 |
Most Wickets In T20I World Cup 2010
Australian left-arm seamer Dirk Nannes took the most number of 14 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2010. Dirk Nannes started his international career for the Netherlands in 2009. Later he moved to Australia to play cricket. He has played internationals for 1 year (2009-2010) and became the highest wicket-taker in his very first T20 World Cup in 2009.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-wicket haul |
| 7 | 14 | 13.07 | 11.1 | 4/18 | 7.03 | 0 |
Most Wickets In T20 World Cup 2012
Former Sri Lankan spin wizard Ajantha Mendis bagged the most number of 15 wickets in the T20I World Cup 2012. Mendis is also one of the top 10 wicket-takers in T20 cricket history with 66 wickets in 39 matches. Mendis was known for his variations during his playing days. Ajantha Mendis also holds the record of taking the most number of wickets (15) in a single T20I World Cup edition. His 6/8 against Zimbabwe in the 2012 T20 World Cup is the 2nd best bowling figure in T20 international.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-wicket haul |
| 6 | 15 | 9.80 | 9.6 | 6/8 | 6.12 | 1 |
Most Wickets In T20I World Cup 2014
South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir got the most number of 12 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2014. Tahir is one of the most important bowlers of the South African bowling lineup. Tahir is known for extraordinary googlies. Tahir is sort of a bowler which every team wants to have in the franchise leagues.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-wicket haul |
| 5 | 12 | 10.91 | 10 | 4/21 | 6.55 | 0 |
Most Wickets In T20 World Cup 2016
Afghan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi grabbed the most number of 12 wickets in the T20I World Cup 2016. Nabi is also a handy batsman, has the ability to smash bowlers all around the park. Nabi is one of the important players behind the rise of Afghanistan cricket in the international circuit.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-wicket haul |
| 7 | 12 | 13.66 | 13.5 | 4/20 | 6.07 | 0 |
Most Wickets In T20 World Cup By An Indian
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has grabbed the most number of 20 wickets so far in the T20 World Cup. Ashwin has represented India in 3 T20 World Cups (2012-2016). Ashwin is prominent for his variations, he has every ball in his closet including off-break, carrom, googly. In spite of Ashwin’s great run with the ball in the 2016 T20 World Cup, India got knocked out in the finals.
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike-rate | Best bowling | Economy | 5-wicket haul |
| 15 | 20 | 16.70 | 16.2 | 4/11 | 6.18 | 0 |
Top 10 Bowlers With Most Wickets in T20 World Cup
| Player | Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | BBF | 5-wickets |
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 34 | 34 | 39 | 23.25 | 20.7 | 4/11 | – |
| Lasith Malinga (SL) | 31 | 31 | 38 | 20.07 | 16.2 | 5/31 | 1 |
| Saeed Ajmal (PAK) | 23 | 23 | 36 | 16.86 | 14.8 | 4/19 | – |
| Ajantha Mendis (SL) | 21 | 21 | 35 | 15.02 | 13.4 | 6/8 | 1 |
| Umar Gul (Pak) | 24 | 24 | 35 | 17.25 | 14.1 | 5/6 | 1 |
| Dale Steyn (SA) | 23 | 23 | 30 | 19.30 | 16.6 | 4/17 | – |
| Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) | 25 | 24 | 30 | 19.53 | 23.6 | 4/15 | – |
| Stuart Broad (ENG) | 26 | 25 | 30 | 22.36 | 17.3 | 3/17 | – |
| Dwayne Bravo (WI) | 29 | 23 | 25 | 25.80 | 17.4 | 4/38 | – |
| Samuel Badree (WI) | 15 | 15 | 24 | 13.58 | 14.7 | 4/15 | – |
Shahid Afridi has taken the most wickets in T20 World Cup, 39 wickets.
Samuel Badree has the best bowling average in T20 World Cup (13.58).