T20 cricket is the reason the bowlers have been developing new deliveries each day. Earlier the bowlers used to ball inswinger, Outwinger, bouncer, or yorkers. But the use of slower deliveries has incremented since the introduction of the franchise league especially. Now each bowler has at least two variations apart from the stock ball. Cutters and knuckleballs have been dangerous weapons in T20 cricket. There are many bowlers who are conquering in T20 internationals. Let’s look at the top 9 players with the most wickets in T20 internationals.
Shakib-Al-Hasan
Bangladeshi all-rounder Shakib-Al-Hasan has taken the most wickets in the T20s, 117 wickets in 94 games. He is the only Bangladeshi on the list. Shakib is currently one of the best all-rounders playing the game. He made his first appearance in the T20s for Bangladesh in 2006 against Zimbabwe. He has been playing for 14 years now at the highest level.
Tim Southee–Most Wickets In T20
Kiwi speedster Tim Southee seals 2nd spot on the list of grabbing the most wickets (111) in the shortest format of the international T20. Southee is an awesome new ball bowler, who takes the ball away from the right-handers. He has been representing New Zealand in T20s since 2008. He played his first T20 international against England.
Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga has taken the 3rd most wickets in T20 internationals. Malinga is probably the most lethal T20 bowler the world has ever seen. He is popular for his yorkers and slower balls. Malinga has been playing for Sri Lanka in T20s since 2006. He played his first T20 in 2006 against England. Malinga Led Sri Lanka wore the crown of the T20 World Cup in 2014. Malinga nagged 107 wickets in 84 matches.
Rashid Khan
Afghanistan sensation Rashid Khan occupies the 4th spot on the basis of grabbing the most wickets in international T20s. He is the youngest on the list and also has the best bowling average in the shortest format of the game. Rashid made his T20 debut in 2015 against Zimbabwe. His outstanding bowling has increased his demands in franchise leagues across the globe. The leggie has bagged 103 wickets in 56 matches to date.
Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi comes to take the 4th position in terms of scalping the most wickets in the history of international T20, 98 scalps in 99 matches. The all-rounder from Pakistan was known for his speed variation in leg-spin bowling. The leggie made his T20 debut in 2006 against England. He has played T20 international for 12 years (2006-2018). Who doesn’t remember his 54* and 1 wicket in the finals of the 2009 T20 World Cup final to take his team home.
Mustafizur Rahaman
Star Bangladeshi left-arm pacer, Mustafizur Rahaman occupies the 6th position in terms of getting the most wickets in T20 international. Cutter is the best weapon in his armory. With his controlled, accurate, and skillful bowling, the southpaw has scalped 86 wickets in 61 matches. It won’t be wrong if we say h can break the record of Malinga to become the highest wicket-taker of all time in T20i.
Umar Gul
Pakistani fast bowler Umar Gul is the 7th highest-wicket taker in the history of T20 internationals (85 wickets). He is the second Pakistani bowler on the list. Gul played the format for Pakistan for 9 years (2007-2016), playing his first match against Kenya. Gul was the highest wicket-taker in the 2007 T20 World Cup (13).
Saeed Ajmal
Spin wizard Saeed Ajmal has taken the 8th most wickets in T20 internationals with 85 wickets in 64 games. Ajmal is one of the best spinners the world has ever seen and the toughest bowlers to face. He made his first appearance in the T20s in 2009 against Australia. He has been around in the T20 internationals for 6 years (2009-2015).
Ish Sodhi
Kiwi leggie, Ish Sodhi has secured a place in this elite list with 83 wickets in 66 matches. Sodhi has been a significant member of the New Zealand team, especially in the game’s shortest format. The tall guy can turn the ball, do the pace, and loop variations to get batsmen out. 4 for 28 is his best show in the T20 international.
Chris Jordan
Mighty England’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, Chris Jordan has scalped 79 wickets in 70 games, the 10th most in T20 international history. Jordan is the shortest format specialist bowler who never fails to perform for his country. Jordan can outplay any batting unit with his variations, pace, and a perfect yorker. In 2018, Jordan bagged 4/6 in just 2 overs against West Indies, which remains his career-best.
| Matches | innings | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | BBF | economy | 4 wickets | 5 wickets | Maidens |
| S AL Hasan (94) | 93 | 117 | 19.79 | 17.8 | 5/20 | 6.66 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| T Southee (92) | 90 | 111 | 24.58 | 17.9 | 5/18 | 8.19 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| L Malinga (84) | 83 | 107 | 20.79 | 16.8 | 5/6 | 7.42 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| R Khan (56) | 56 | 103 | 12.73 | 12.3 | 5/3 | 6.20 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| S Afridi (99) | 97 | 98 | 24.44 | 22.1 | 4/11 | 6.63 | 3 | – | 4 |
| M Rahman (61) | 61 | 86 | 19.51 | 15.3 | 5/22 | 7.63 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| U Gul (60) | 60 | 85 | 16.97 | 14.1 | 5/6 | 7.19 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| S Ajmal (64) | 63 | 85 | 17.83 | 16.8 | 4/19 | 6.36 | 4 | – | 2 |
| I Sodhi (66) | 64 | 83 | 21.97 | 16.3 | 4/28 | 8.05 | 2 | – | – |
| C Jordan (70) | 69 | 79 | 26.36 | 18.5 | 4/6 | 8.54 | 2 | – | 2 |
Shakib Al Hasan has taken the most wickets in T20 internationals (117)
Jasprit Bumrah has grabbed the most wickets in T20 internationals (66 wickets).