Most Wickets in the T20 World Cup History

The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will be played in America and West Indies from June 2 to 29. Team India will start its campaign with a match against Ireland on June 5. England are the defending champion of the tournament. The team won the title for the second time by defeating Pakistan in 2022. They delivered a complete performance with both the bat and the bowl.

The shortest format of the game seems to be a batter-dominating game but the trend has changed now. Bowlers also keep equal importance as batsmen. Cricket fans have witnessed several T20 matches where a team's batsmen failed to achieve a good defending total but bowlers then saved the match.

Just as a batsman plays a vital role in winning the match in the same way, bowlers are equally responsible for saving the total added by batters. Otherwise, a team can never be successful based on batsmen only. So, let's check out the top five bowlers who have taken the most wickets in the T20 World Cup history.

Also Read: Most Runs in T20 World Cup History

Most Wickets in T20 World Cup history

#5. Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) | 35 wickets

Ajantha Mendis, a former right-arm off-break of Sri Lanka, is placed in the number 5th position for having the most wickets in T20 World Cup. Mendis played 21 T20 matches in the T20 World Cup from 2009 to 2014 and took 35 wickets at an economy of 6.70 and an average of 15.02. His best with the ball in the T20 World Cup is 6 for just 8 runs which is still an unbreakable record for taking the highest wicket in an inning.

Ajantha Mendis made his T20 debut in the match against Zimbabwe at King City (NW) on  October 10, 2008, where he performed superbly by taking 4 wickets, and became the Man of the Match. Overall, he appeared in 39 T20I and took 66 wickets with an economy of 6.45 and an average of 14.42. 

#4. Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) | 36 wickets

Saeed Ajmal, a former right-arm off-breaker of Pakistan, is listed at the number 4th position in the list of the most wickets in the T20 World Cup. In his T20 World Cup career from 2009 to 2014, he played 23 matches and took 36 wickets with an economy of 6.79 and an average of 16.86 and his best in bowling was 4 for 19.

Saeed Ajmal made his T20I debut in the match against Pakistan at Dubai (DSC) on May 07, 2009, and he played his last T20I against Bangladesh at Mirpur on April 24, 2015. Overall, he appeared in 64 T20I for Pakistan and took 85 wickets with an economy of 6.36.

Also Read: Most Sixes in the T20 World Cup

#3. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) | 38 wickets

Lasith Malinga, a former right-arm pace bowler of Sri Lanka, is sitting at the number 3 position for taking the most wickets in the T20 World Cup. Malinga was well known for his yorker deliveries especially slow yorkers in the death overs. His journey from 2007 to 2014 in the T20 World Cup was very crucial for lifting the T20 World Cup title for Sri Lanka.

From 2007 to 2014, Sri Lankan pacer, Malinga appeared in 31 matches and took 38 wickets for his team with an economy of 7.43 and an average of 20.07. In T20I, he made his debut against England at Southampton on June 15, 2006, whereas he played his last match against West Indies at Pallekele in 2020. Overall, he appeared in 84 T20 matches and took 107 wickets at an economy of 7.42.

#2. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 39 wickets

Shahid Afridi, a former all-rounder of Pakistan, stands at the number 2 position for taking the most wickets in the T20 World Cup. He is a right-arm leg spinner who played in the T20 World Cup from 2007 to 2016, he appeared in 34 matches of the T20 World Cup for Pakistan where he took 39 wickets at an economy of 6.71 which is pretty good and an average of 23.25.

Shahid Afridi played a crucial role for the Pakistan team when they won the T20 World Cup in 2009 against Sri Lanka and he was named Man of the Match for his outstanding performance of unbeaten 54 runs and 1 wicket. Shahid Afridi made his T20 debut against England at Bristol on August 28, 2006. In his T20 career, he played 99 T20I and took 98 wickets with an economy of 6.63.

#1. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) | 41 wickets

Shakib Al Hasan, a left-arm spinner from Bangladesh, holds the top position for having the most wickets in the T20 World Cup from 2007 to 2022. He is one of the best all-rounders who has enough caliber to change the situation of the match at any point.

In his T20 World Cup career from 2007 to 2022, he appeared in 36 T20I for Bangladesh where he has taken 47 wickets which makes him the highest wicket-taker of the competition. He has also been able to sustain a good economy of below 7 runs per over with an average of 18.63 and his best is 4 for 9. In the T20 international, Shakib Al Hasan made his debut for Bangladesh in the match against Zimbabwe at Khulna on November 28, 2006, since then he has played 122 T20Is and taken 146 wickets with an economy of 6.78.

Also Read: Most runs in Knockouts of ICC tournament 

List of Most Wickets in T20 World Cup