Top-5 wicket-takers in the history of ICC T20 World Cup

ICC Twenty20 World Cup: The game’s shortest and T20I format has made the bowlers unleash their inner skills and provide hitherto unseen variations in their bowling. Modern types have certainly assisted bowlers in gaining more wickets in the T20s. The inaugural T20 World Cup kickstarted in 2007 in South Africa. Since then, seven additional World Cups have been organised. 

With the upcoming and most-awaited international tournament, the ICC T20 World Cup starting on the 16th of October in Australia, let us know more about the top five bowlers scalping the most wickets in T20 World Cup history.

1. Shakib Al Hasan (41 Wickets- Bangladesh)

Bangladesh’s set all-rounder and former skipper, Shakib Al Hasan, is mainly about a player’s intriguing cricketing career. He is probably one of the underdogs of an all-rounder in the cricketing world. Though he had some controversial stories in the sport, his aggressive left-handed batting style in the middle order, along with his controlled slow left-arm orthodox bowling, has elevated him to Bangladesh’s finest cricketer. After the recent edition of the T20 World Cup, Shakib Al Hasan has topped the list by scalping the most wickets in the whole T20 World Cup by taking 41 wickets in just 31 matches, with an economy of 6.43. 

3. Shahid Afridi (39 Wickets- Pakistan)

Former Pakistani spinner Shahid Afridi is known for his instrumental contribution to Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup victory, scoring a blazing 54 off 40 balls and taking two wickets. In addition to that, he has scalped the most wickets in T20I World Cup history, with 39. Afridi has represented Pakistan in six World Cups (2007-2016). He has collected 98 wickets in 99 T20 matches. With an economy of 6.71, the numbers indicate how difficult it was for batters to score in ICC Twenty20 World Cup. In addition to wickets, he has 546 runs in 32 innings.

3. Lasith Malinga (38 Wickets- Sri Lanka)

Lasith Malinga, a.k.a Slinga Malinga, has been a remarkable bowler in the shortest format of the game. In Layman, he has redefined the way we see T20I bowlers. Thanks to his distinctive round-arm action or the sling action and quality, the former Sri Lankan pacer was used as a handy death-bowler. Indeed, he is a former Sri Lankan cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest limited overs bowlers of all time. In just 31 appearances, he has grabbed 38 wickets. He led Sri Lanka to victory in the 2014 ICC Twenty20 World Cup.

4. Saeed Ajmal (36 Wickets- Pakistan)

Saeed Ajmal is placed third on this list, with 36 wickets in only 23 matches. He is a former Pakistani cricketer and coach who has played all forms of the game. He bats right-handed and bowls off-spin with his right arm. Ajmal was considered the top ODI and T20I bowler in the cricketing world and second in Tests between his 2011 and 2014 stint. Ajmal was one of the best spinners and one of the most precise fielders of all time in his period. He was known for his acrobatic fielding abilities, including catching, ground fielding, and throwing from his most common position of backward point.

5. Ajantha Mendis (35 Wickets- Sri Lanka)

Ajantha Mendis is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played in all three formats. He is also known as the “mystery spinner” owing to his odd bowling action changes and is widely known for his finest; limited overs bowling in the world. He announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in August 2019. In his T20 World Cup stint, he took 35 wickets in just 21 matches, with an economy of 6.70.

In addition, the fifth position on the list is shared by Umar Gul from Pakistan, who has scalped 35 Wickets in 24 matches with an economy of 7.30.