Bowlers play a huge role in the 20-over format, if a team has a fragile bowling unit that ends up leaking a lot of runs, it will eventually put pressure on batsmen, and the team will already be on the back foot.
With the T20 World Cup approaching, we will go through the list of bowlers who have picked the most number of T20 International wickets in their career so far.
5. Rashid Khan- 95 T20 International Wickets
The young Afghanistan bowling sensation Rashid Khan is arguably the best leg-spinner of the current generation. So far Rashid Khan has played 51 T20I games and has picked 95 wickets at an average of 12.63 and an Economy of 6.21. Meanwhile, he has picked these wickets with an exceptional strike rate of 12.10. Also, Rashid Khan has two 5-wickets hauls under his belt in T20 Internationals.
4. Shahid Afridi- 98 T20 International Wickets
The former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi is undoubtedly one of the greatest players from team Pakistan to play T20 Internationals. Shahid Afridi missed a century of T20I games by the mark of one as he represented team Pakistan in 99 T20Is. He was given the opportunity to ball in 97 innings in which he bagged 98 wickets at an average of 24.44 and an Economy of 6.63. Also, Afridi was able to pick three 4-wicket hauls in his marvelous career.
3. Tim Southee – 99 T20 International Wickets
Southee popularly known as Tim Southee is unarguably one of the most underrated T20 Bowler. Tim Southee has represented the New Zealand national cricket team in 83 T20 internationals games bowling in 81 innings scalping 99 wickets an average of 25.17 and an economy of 8.39. His bowling strike in T20I cricket is 18.00. Also, he has bagged a five-wicket haul and a 4-wicket haul in Twenty-20 cricket.
2. Shakib Al Hasan – 104 T20 International Wickets
Shakib Al Hasan is on the verge of becoming the highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals. He has represented Bangladesh in 85 T20 Internationals and has 104 wickets under his belt.
Notably, he is the only second player to pick 100 wickets in the T20Is. Shakib has picked his T20 Internationals wickets at an average of 20.33 economy of 6.74 and strike rate of 18.00. Also, the 34-year-old has four 4-wicket hauls and one 5-wicket haul under his belt.
1. Lasith Malinga – 107 T20 International Wickets
Lasith Malinga is one of the greatest white-ball bowlers of all time. He brought a lot of variations with him paired with his fierce and unorthodox bowling action that made him a deadly bowler. Malinga had constant run-ins with injuries which led to him becoming less effective. However, he still holds enormous records and had a great and successful international career.
He currently sits at the top of the T20I wickets tally with 107 wickets under his belt. The 38-year-old has picked his wickets at an average of 20.79 economy of 7.42 and strike rate of 16.80. He also has bagged 2 five-wicket hauls in his career.
Must Read | List of T20 internationals Hat Tricks
