The T20 World Cup is just over two weeks away from getting underway and here's the list of bowlers with most wickets in T20 World Cup. The ninth edition of the tournament will be played in the West Indies and the USA as some of the top cricketers in the shortest format will be setting the stage on fire for the entire month of June. T20 cricket is generally supposed to be a batters’ game with flat pitches and short boundaries on offer.
But it is the bowlers who make the maximum impact at times picking up wickets with shrewd plans and variations in their bowling. Some of these bowlers have been doing it consistently and picking wickets in the T20 World Cup. Here we bring you top 10 players with most wickets in T20 World Cup.
Players with most runs in T20 World Cup history
Most wickets in T20 World Cup
| Player | Wickets |
| Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) | 47 |
| Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 39 |
| Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) | 38 |
| Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) | 36 |
| Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) | 35 |
| Umar Gul (Pakistan) | 35 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin (India) | 32 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) | 31 |
| Dale Steyn (South Africa) | 30 |
| Stuart Broad (England) | 30 |
- Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh)
Shakib Al Hasan is only one of the two players (other being Rohit Sharma) to feature in all ICC T20 World Cup editions since 2007. He is set to play his ninth mega event in the format and is the top wicket-taker of the tournament. The left-arm spinner has picked up 47 wickets so far in 35 innings at an impeccable average of 18.63 and an economy of 6.78. Shakib has also picked up three five-wicket hauls and will be keen on repeating his heroics in the upcoming tournament as well.
- Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
Shahid Afridi was part of Pakistan’s World Cup winning squad in 2010 when they defeated England in the final. Apart from playing blistering knocks with the bat, he bamboozled batters with his leg-spin as well. Despite playing his last mega event in 2016, Afridi is the second in the list of most wickets in T20 World Cup. He accounted for 39 wickets in 34 matches at an average of 23.25 and an economy of 6.71. His best figures at the World Cup read 4/11 and Pakistan are still searching for a consistent performer like him.
- Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Lasith Malinga was a match-winner in his own terms for Sri Lanka. He played the T20 World Cup from 2007 to 2014 in a total of five editions and signed off by helping his side lift the trophy in what turned out to be last T20 World Cup. 10 years later, he is still at the third place among players with most wickets in T20 World Cup. He played 31 matches in the tournament and accounted for 38 scalps at an average of 20.07 and an economy of 7.43 which is brilliant given that he bowled most of his overs at the backend of the innings.
- Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)
Pakistan’s mystery spinner Saeed Ajmal played only 23 matches for his country at the T20 World Cup and he is still at the fourth position in this list. He picked up 36 wickets at the event at a brilliant average of 16.86 and boasted of an economy of only 6.79. Ajmal at times was unplayable and his all-time best figures in the World Cup are 4/19.
- Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Another mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis from Sri Lanka is a part of the list of players with most wickets in T20 World Cup. He played 21 matches for his country and picked up 35 wickets at an average of 15.02 and an economy of 6.7. He is also one of the very few players to pick up a five-wicket haul in the T20 World Cup with his best figures reading 6/8 which are also the best ever in the history of mega event.
- Umar Gul (Pakistan)
Umar Gul is the third Pakistan bowler in this list of players with most wickets in T20 World Cup. He also picked up 35 wickets in 82.4 overs he sent down in 24 matches at an average of 17.25 and an economy of 7.3. Gul is also one of the bowlers to have picked up as five-wicket haul at the T20 World Cup.
- Ravichandran Ashwin (India)
Ravichandran Ashwin is the first and only cricketer from India in this list of players with most wickets in T20 World Cup. His first mega event in the format was in 2012 and featured last in 2022. He is still an active player but hasn’t been picked in the squad for T20 World Cup 2024. Overall, he picked up 32 wickets in the tournament in 24 matches at an average of 17.25 and an impeccable economy of 6.49. His best figures in the tournament read 4/11.
- Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga is only the second player in this list who will play in T20 World Cup 2024. The leg-spinner is also the captain of his country for the mega event and has so far picked up 31 wickets in just 16 matches at an impressive economy of 5.81. Hasaranga is bound to climb the ladder in the upcoming tournament with Sri Lanka scheduled to play at least four matches.
- Dale Steyn (South Africa)
Dale Steyn might have played his last T20 World Cup in 2016 but he is ruling the roost even here. He is at the ninth place in the list of players with most wickets in T20 World Cup picking up 30 wickets in just 23 matches at an average of 19.30 and an economy of just under 7.
- Stuart Broad (England)
Stuart Broad was once the captain of England at the shortest format but always did his job with the ball playing in five T20 World Cups. He featured in 26 matches overall for England at the mega event and picked 30 wickets with 3/17 being his best effort. Broad retired from international cricket last year but last played white-ball cricket in 2016.
