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.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Irfan makes a brilliant example of it.
Playing for Barbados Tridents in the 2018 Caribbean Premier League, Mohammad Irfan delivered the most economical spell in T20 cricket, giving away just one run in his four overs. The lanky pacer bowled three maiden overs against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, picked two wickets and finished the match at an economy of 0.25.
Most economical spells in T20
| Bowler | Team | Opponent | Spell | Economy | Year |
| Mohammad Irfan | Barbados Tridents | St Kitts and Nevis Patriots | 4-3-1-2 | 0.25 | 2018 |
| Chris Morris | Lions | Cape Cobras | 4-3-2-2 | 0.50 | 2014 |
| Chanaka Welegedara | Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club | Sinhalese Sports Club | 4-2-2-4 | 0.50 | 2014 |
| Zulfiqar Babar | Multan Tigers | Quetta Bears | 4-2-3-2 | 0.75 | 2012 |
| Shoaib Malik | Barbados Tridents | Antigua Hawksbills | 4-2-3-1 | 0.75 | 2013 |
Before Mohammad Irfan, Chris Morris and Chanaka Welegedara both held the record in T20. In their quota of four overs, the bowlers had given away just two runs. Morris picked two wickets during his spell while Welegedara scalped four. Zulfiqar Babar sits fourth after he gave away just three runs in a Pakistan Super League match against Quetta Bears in 2012.
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 Mohammed Aslam during the 2019/20 ACC Western Region T20I match between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Aslam, a Sri Lanka-born bowler, ended with the figure of 2/3 in four overs.
Among member nations, Lasith Malinga holds the record for the most economical spell in T20I cricket. The Sri Lanka pacer gave away just six runs in his four overs while also taking five wickets against New Zealand in 2019, skittling the Kiwis out for 88.
Most economical spells in T20I
| Bowler | Team | Opponent | Spell | Economy | Year |
| Mohammed Aslam | Kuwait | Saudi Arabia | 4-1-3-2 | 0.75 | 2020 |
| Aizaz Khan | Hong Kong | Nepal | 4-1-4-2 | 1.00 | 2014 |
| Pedro Arrighi | Argentina | Brazil | 4-2-4-5 | 1.00 | 2019 |
| Karima Gore | USA | Bermuda | 4-2-5-3 | 1.25 | 2019 |
| Atif Kamal | Luxembourg | Turkey | 4-0-5-2 | 1.25 | 2019 |
Featured photo: AFP / Saeed Khan
