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T20I cricket moves very fast and is often called a batsman’s game. But bowlers also play a big part by stopping runs and taking wickets at the right time. Some bowlers have done this again and again to become legends.
Recently, Rashid Khan of Afghanistan became the number one wicket-taker in T20 International (T20I) matches. Let’s look at the top five bowlers who have taken the most wickets in T20Is.
5. Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) – 142 wickets
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Mustafizur Rahman, also known as “The Fizz”, is famous for his special cutters (variations of slower balls). He is very useful, especially in the last few overs when batters try to hit big shots.
- Matches: 113
- Wickets: 142
- Best bowling: 6/10 vs USA (2024)
He once bowled so well that the USA team could score only 104 runs. Bangladesh won that match easily.
4. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 149 wickets
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Shakib is known as one of the best all-rounders in cricket, because he is very good at both batting and bowling. With his accurate spin, he has troubled many big batters.
- Matches: 129
- Wickets: 149
- Best bowling: 5/20 vs West Indies (2018)
He won a match against the West Indies by taking five wickets and scoring runs.
Also Read: Asia Cup 2025: Full List of All Team Squads Announced
3. Ish Sodhi (New Zealand) – 150 wickets
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Ish Sodhi is a leg-spin bowler from New Zealand. He usually bowls in the middle overs and tries to break partnerships.
- Matches: 126
- Wickets: 150
- Best bowling: 4/12 vs Zimbabwe (2025)
He has taken four wickets in an innings several times, showing how effective he is.
2. Tim Southee (New Zealand) – 164 wickets
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Tim Southee is a fast bowler from New Zealand and is famous for swinging the ball (making it move in the air). He is one of the most dependable bowlers and has played T20I cricket for many years.
- Matches: 126
- Wickets: 164
- Best bowling: 5/18 vs Pakistan (2010)
His best spell came against Pakistan in 2010, where he took five wickets. Even later in his career, he kept taking wickets with his clever bowling.
1. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 165 wickets
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Rashid Khan is a superstar of T20I cricket. He is just 26 years old but already holds the record for the most wickets in T20Is. His fast and tricky leg-spin bowling is very tough for batsmen to play.
- Matches: 98
- Wickets: 165
- Best bowling: 5/3 vs Ireland (2017)
In one match, he bowled only two overs but took 5 wickets while giving just 3 runs – one of the best spells in T20I history.
Conclusion
These five bowlers show that T20I cricket is not only about batting. With smart skills and hard work, bowlers can also become match winners. Right now, Rashid Khan is the king of T20I bowling, but the race for the top will continue as more matches are played.
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