From Shakib Al Hasan to Adil Rashid, know the players with most wickets in T20Is

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan holds the record for most wickets in T20Is. The Bangladesh veteran, who has also picked most wickets in T20 World Cup, has a total of 119 scalps to his name in the shortest format.

Since making his T20I debut in 2006 against Zimbabwe, the left-arm spinner has represented Bangladesh in 96 matches in the shortest format. During this time, he has maintained a commendable economy of 6.67 and is averaging a wicket every 17.8 deliveries.

Furthermore, he has also picked as many as five four-wicket hauls, the first of which came in only his second match against the West Indies. Bowling first, Shakib was simply unplayable, picking four wickets for 34 runs in four overs.

Interestingly enough, his only five-wicket haul in Twenty20 Internationals also came against the West Indies.

During the second T20I of the West Indies tour of Bangladesh in 2018, Shakib first scored an unbeaten 42 off a mere 26 deliveries and followed it up with a bowling figure of 5/20 to be rightly adjudged as the Man of the Match.

Shakib’s tally of 119 wickets in 96 matches could have been even greater if it was not for the ban that was imposed on him in late 2019. As a result of this, the veteran all-rounder missed the entirety of the 2020 calendar and only returned to international cricket in July 2021. While his form did deter in the initial games, he picked up the pace eventually.

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Tim Southee has picked the second most wickets in T20I. The Kiwi pacer has 111 wickets to his name in 92 T20I matches. Unlike Shakib, Southee’s economy (8.19) is slightly on the higher side.

Third on the list is the seasoned T20 cricketer Rashid Khan. The former Afghanistan captain has picked a total of 109 wickets in just 61 matches to date. Rashid has the best economy rate (6.12) among bowlers who have picked more than 100 wickets in the shortest format. Interestingly, only four bowlers have managed to breach the century of scalps.

The other player to do so is Sri Lanka veteran Lasith Malinga, who finished his career with 109 wickets in 84 matches. Completing the top five list is the former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, who in 99 T20Is scalped 98 wickets. During his brief career in the shortest format, he picked three four-wicket hauls.

Most wickets in T20Is

Featured photo: AFP / Randy Brooks