T20I cricket started in 2003 in English county cricket and has since gained immense popularity worldwide. Over the past 20 years, it has become a favorite among fans and businesses alike, known for its exciting and fast-paced matches. Similar to Test cricket, T20 also requires specialized players for various roles.
The first T20 International (T20I) match took place in February 2005 between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland. Since then, players have thrilled audiences with their exceptional skills. Interestingly, none of the Indian players from the inaugural T20 World Cup-winning team feature among the top 10 bowlers with the most wickets in T20I cricket. Nonetheless, there are several consistent and talented bowlers who have made their mark.
Now, let’s explore the top ten bowlers with the highest number of wickets in T20I cricket:
10. Mark Adair (Ireland) – 102 wickets
Mark Adair, a right-arm fast bowler, has excelled for Ireland’s cricket team. He has been a key player in various formats, especially in limited-overs cricket. Adair’s consistent performance has earned him a place among the top 10 wicket-takers in T20I cricket, with 102 wickets in 74 matches.
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9. Shadab Khan (Pakistan) – 104 wickets:
Shadab Khan is one of Pakistan’s key players in T20I cricket, known for winning crucial matches. His contributions have been significant to Pakistan’s success in recent years. With nearly 100 T20I matches under his belt, Shadab has played 92 games, taking 104 wickets and scoring 569 runs in 43 innings, including a half-century.
8. Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) – 105 wickets:
Since he started playing, Mustafizur Rahman, a left-arm bowler from Bangladesh, has done very well in international cricket. He has taken 105 wickets in 88 T20I matches. Mustafizur Rahman, who is 28 years old, has been steady in limited-overs cricket for Bangladesh and is a key part of their fast bowling lineup.
7. Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) – 105 wickets:
Mitchell Santner, a Kiwi all-rounder, is one of the most underrated players in T20I cricket. He is a left-arm spinner who has played 93 T20I matches for New Zealand and taken 105 wickets. This makes him the third highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in T20Is. Besides his bowling, Santner has also contributed with the bat, scoring 610 runs in 64 T20I innings.
6. Adil Rashid (England) – 107 wickets:
Adil Rashid, England’s leg-spinner, has been very important in their success in limited-overs cricket. He has helped England win many T20 and ODI matches with his consistent performance. Rashid has played 104 T20I games and taken 107 wickets. In the T20 World Cup, he has taken 21 wickets in 22 games. His economy rate of 7.38 in T20Is is excellent.
5. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 107 wickets:
Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga used to be the top wicket-taker in T20 Internationals. Even though he retired four years ago, he is still among the top five wicket-takers in this format. Malinga took 107 wickets in 84 games for Sri Lanka and also had great performances in T20 leagues worldwide.
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4. Ish Sodhi (New Zealand) – 126 wickets:
Ish Sodhi, a New Zealand leg-spinner, is the fourth leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket with 126 wickets in 105 games. He is a specialist in limited-overs cricket for the Kiwi team. At 31 years old, he also has 63 wickets in 51 ODI matches and continues to perform well in his career.
3. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 130 wickets:
Rashid Khan is one of the best players in T20I cricket. His excellent performance in a short time has made him very famous in this format. Rashid plays for many teams in T20 leagues worldwide and does an amazing job. He has played 82 matches and taken 130 wickets in T20Is, with an economy rate of 6.17.
2. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 140 wickets:
Shakib Al Hasan from Bangladesh is one of the best all-rounders in world cricket. He is often at the top of the ICC rankings for all-rounders, showing how good he is. Shakib has taken 140 wickets in 117 T20I matches, making him the second highest wicket-taker in T20Is.
1. Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 147 wickets:
New Zealand’s right-arm fast bowler, Tim Southee, is the top wicket-taker in T20 cricket. The 35-year-old has been very successful in T20I games for New Zealand. Southee has played 117 T20I matches and taken 147 wickets, with an economy rate of 8.13. He also has two five-wicket hauls in T20Is.
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