10 Players With Most Wickets in T20 World Cup History
The Elite Ten
Despite T20’s reputation as a batter-dominated game, elite bowlers have consistently thrived on the world stage. Sri Lankan stars Lasith Malinga, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Ajantha Mendis feature prominently among the T20 World Cup’s top ten wicket-takers, alongside other Asian icons like Bangladesh's Shakib al Hasan.
Ajantha Mendis
Legendary Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis remains one of the most clinical bowlers in T20 World Cup history, having claimed 35 wickets in just 21 matches. He holds the record for the best bowling figures in the tournament’s history, taking 6/8 against Zimbabwe in 2012, while maintaining an exceptional average of 15.02.
Anrich Nortje
South African ace pacer Anrich Nortje has claimed 35 wickets in T20 World Cup history, making him his country's leading wicket-taker in the tournament. He also achieved a unique milestone by taking at least one wicket in 16 consecutive T20 World Cup innings, thereby maintaining a career tournament average of just 11.40.
Tim Southee
Tim Southee was a cornerstone of New Zealand’s bowling attack for years, having secured 36 wickets across 25 matches in T20 World Cup history. Maintaining a disciplined economy rate of 7.00, his best tournament performance of 3/4 came during a dominant spell against Uganda in 2024, while maintaining a career average of 17.92.
Saeed Ajmal
Known as the Pakistani 'Magician', Saeed Ajmal claimed 36 wickets in the 23 T20 World Cup matches that he played throughout his career. A key figure in Pakistan's 2009 title-winning campaign, he finished as the tournament's joint second-highest wicket-taker and later recorded his best figures of 4/19 against Ireland.
Adam Zampa
Adam Zampa is Australia’s most successful T20 World Cup bowler, having taken 36 wickets with a career tournament average of just 13.69. A key architect of the Kangaroos' 2021 WC title win, Zampa holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Australian in the competition with his masterful 5/19 against Bangladesh.
Rashid Khan
One of the finest T20I bowlers of all time, Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan has taken 37 wickets across 23 T20 WC matches with an economy rate of 6.31. His career-best performance of 4/9 against Uganda in 2024 highlights his unreal abilities, while his 4/17 against New Zealand remains the best bowling figure by a captain.
Wanindu Hasaranga
Another Sri Lankan to occupy a place on this elite list, Wanindu Hasaranga has been a dominant force in the T20 World Cup, having taken 37 wickets in just 19 matches at an average of 11.73. He holds the record for the most wickets in a single edition, claiming 16 scalps in 2021, which included a historic hat-trick against South Africa.
Lasith Malinga
The 'King of Yorkers', ex-Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga claimed 38 wickets in 31 matches at an average of 20.08 throughout his T20 World Cup career. Famous for his unique round-arm action, he famously captained the Lions to their first T20 World Cup title in 2014, and is the only bowler to have taken two WC hat-tricks in T20Is and ODIs.
Shahid Afridi
Legendary Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi sits high on the all-time list with 39 wickets in 34 T20 World Cup matches at an economy rate of 6.71. A pioneer of the format, he was named Player of the Tournament in the inaugural 2007 edition and famously steered Pakistan to the 2009 title with a match-winning performance in the final.
Shakib al Hasan
Shakib al Hasan is the all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history, becoming the first bowler to reach the monumental milestone of 50 wickets during the 2024 edition. Achieving this feat in 42 matches, he secured his 50th wickett by dismissing Indian captain Rohit Sharma in a high-stakes Super Eight clash in the previous edition.
