T20 cricket is always perceived as a batsman’s game. The shortest format of cricket is designed in a way that makes it very difficult for bowlers to keep the flow of runs in check runs. However, that hasn’t stopped bowlers from delivering remarkable spells.
New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson and Canada's Saad Bin Zafar make a brilliant example of it. Both Lockie Ferguson and Saad Bin Zafar are the only two bowlers to produce four maiden overs in their four-over spell in T20 cricket history.
Most economical spells in T20
| Bowler | Team | Opponent | Spell | Economy | Year |
| Lockie Ferguson | New Zealand | PNG | 4-4-0-3 | 0.00 | 2024 |
| Saad Bin Zafar | Canada | Panama | 4-4-0-2 | 0.00 | 2021 |
| Nuwan Kulasekara | Sri Lanka | Netherlands | 2-2-0-1 | 0.00 | 2014 |
| Junaid Siddiqui | Canada | Belize | 2-2-0-1 | 0.00 | 2021 |
| Virandeep Singh | Malaysia | Bhutan | 2-2-0-1 | 0.00 | 2022 |
As far as the Indian T20 League is concerned, there are as many as three bowlers (with a minimum of three overs), who have ended their spell at an economy of 1.50. The first one to do so was Fidel Edwards. Playing for Team Deccan against Kolkata in 2009, the West Indies pacer conceded six runs in his four overs whilst delivering one maiden over. He failed to pick a wicket though.
Just a month after Edwards had set a record, Ashish Nehra recorded identical figures, albeit picking a wicket too. Ten years later, Bangalore spinner Yuzvendra Chahal matched the figures against Chennai. Anil Kumble also makes it to the list with figures of 5/5 in 3.1 overs in 2009.
Most economical spells in Indian T20 League
| Bowler | Team | Opponent | Spell | Economy | Year |
| Fidel Edwards | Deccan | Kolkata | 4-1-6-0 | 1.50 | 2009 |
| Ashish Nehra | Delhi | Punjab | 4-1-6-1 | 1.50 | 2009 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | Bangalore | Chennai | 4-1-6-1 | 1.50 | 2019 |
| Anil Kumble | Bangalore | Rajasthan | 3.1-1-5-5 | 1.57 | 2009 |
| Rahul Sharma | Pune | Mumbai | 4-0-7-2 | 1.75 | 2011 |
The most economical spell in T20 international cricket was bowled by Saad Bin Zafar during an ICC Men's T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier.
Among member nations, Lockie Ferguson holds the record for the most economical spell in T20 international cricket. Lockie Ferguson registered figures of 4-4-0-3 against Papua New Guinea in a T20 World Cup 2024 game at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad.
Most economical spells in T20I
| Bowler | Team | Opponent | Spell | Economy | Year |
| Lockie Ferguson | New Zealand | PNG | 4-4-0-3 | 0.00 | 2024 |
| Saad Bin Zafar | Canada | Panama | 4-4-0-2 | 0.00 | 2021 |
| Nuwan Kulasekara | Sri Lanka | Netherlands | 2-2-0-1 | 0.00 | 2014 |
| Junaid Siddiqui | Canada | Belize | 2-2-0-1 | 0.00 | 2021 |
| Virandeep Singh | Malaysia | Bhutan | 2-2-0-1 | 0.00 | 2022 |
Featured photo: AFP / Saeed Khan
