Most Wickets in T20 Cricket History – Who is Leading the Wickets Chart?

Batters enjoy a lot of freedom in T20 cricket, as it facilitates them to score big runs. This is a major reason why bowlers often get a hard time in T20 games where rules are mostly in favor of batters. Keeping this in view, those bowlers still perform well in this format by taking regular wickets deserves appreciation. Their skill to contain batters in their most favorable conditions are worth highlighting, as it makes them standout performers.

It should be noted that bowlers with the most wickets in T20 cricket have shown remarkable consistency across different conditions. They have performed in various countries without limiting their skills to a single type of condition. Because of this, they have taken wickets in large numbers, establishing themselves as specialists in T20 cricket.

If you do not know much about those bowlers who have taken the most wickets in this format, read this blog completely to know about their names. It will let you know about the best T20 bowlers of all time who have ruled this format by showcasing remarkable consistency with the ball.

Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan leads the list of bowlers who have taken the most wickets in T20 history. Hailing from Afghanistan, he is considered one of the best spin bowlers of all time in T20 cricket. This is the reason why batters always face difficulty while facing him in the matches. He has taken 182 wickets in T20 cricket by playing a total of 108 matches. This is a remarkable achievement by the Afghan superstar, because performing in T20s with such consistency is very hard.

Stat Category	Career T20I Bowling Stats for Rashid Khan
Matches	108
Innings Bowled	108
Balls Bowled	2462
Wickets	182
Bowling Average	13.69
Economy Rate	6.07 runs per over
Strike Rate	13.53 balls per wicket
Best Bowling in an Inning (BBI)	5/3
Five‑Wicket Hauls (5‑for)	2 times
Years Active in T20Is	2015–2025+
Best World Cup Figures	4/9 in T20 World Cup

Tim Southee

Tim Southee is a bowler who has performed remarkably well across formats. His records in T20 cricket are exceptional because he has shown consistency in taking wickets. The best thing about Southee is that he has performed superbly all over the world. This is why franchises still want to pick him in various T20 leagues, as his overall record of taking 164 wickets in the format speaks volumes about his class.

Stat Category	Career T20I Bowling Stats for Tim Southee
Matches	126
Innings Bowled	123
Balls Bowled	2753
Wickets	164
Bowling Average	22.38
Economy Rate	8.00 runs per over
Strike Rate	16.79 balls per wicket
Best Bowling in an Inning (BBI)	5/18
Five‑Wicket Hauls (5‑for)	2 times
Years Active in T20Is	2008–2025+

Mustafizur Rahman

Mustafizur Rahman is a highly sought after bowler in the global T20 circuit. The reason is that his stats in the format are simply great, which is why franchises prefer to pick him in their bowling rosters. Hailing from Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman has made a strong name for himself in international T20 cricket. He has picked 158 wickets in 126 matches at an average of 20.96 runs. These are good numbers that showcase the caliber of Mustafizur Rahman in T20 cricket. He is still going strong in this format by consistently performing well for the Bangladesh team.

Stat Category	Career T20I Bowling Stats for Mustafizur Rahman
Matches	126
Innings Bowled	125
Balls Bowled	2712
Wickets	158
Bowling Average	20.96
Economy Rate	7.28 runs per over
Strike Rate	17.26 balls per wicket
Best Bowling in an Inning (BBI)	6/10
Five‑Wicket Hauls (5‑for)	2 times
Years Active in T20Is	2015–2025+
Best World Cup Figures	6/10

Ish Sodhi

Ish Sodhi is another New Zealander who has taken the most wickets in T20 cricket history. He is a leg-spinner who has demonstrated excellent skill in containing batters in the T20 format. This is a difficult trait, but Sodhi has mastered it by establishing himself as a specialist in T20 bowling. In his 132 T20 internationals, he has taken 157 wickets at an average of 27.98 runs. These numbers highlight why Sodhi has been such a valuable bowler for New Zealand in T20s since 2014.

Stat Category	Career T20I Bowling Stats for Ish Sodhi
Matches	132
Innings Bowled	126
Balls Bowled	2636
Wickets	157
Bowling Average	22.34
Economy Rate	7.98 runs per over
Strike Rate	16.70 balls per wicket
Best Bowling in an Inning (BBI)	4/12
Five‑Wicket Hauls (5‑for)	0 times
Years Active in T20Is	2014–2025+
Best World Cup Figures	4/12

Shakib Al Hasan

After Mustafizur Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan is the second Bangladeshi bowler to take the most wickets in T20 international cricket. His credentials are stronger than Mustafizur Rahman because he is an all-format bowler. Talking about T20s, Shakib’s brilliance are recognized by everyone. He has picked 149 wickets in 129 matches at an average of 20.91 runs. The left-arm spin bowling of Shakib is indeed a great asset for Bangladesh in T20s, as his strike rate with the ball is also very good.

Stat Category	Career T20I Bowling Stats for Shakib Al Hasan
Matches	129
Innings Bowled	126
Balls Bowled	2745
Wickets	149
Bowling Average	20.91
Economy Rate	6.81 runs per over
Strike Rate	18.40 balls per wicket
Best Bowling in an Inning (BBI)	5/20
Five‑Wicket Hauls (5‑for)	2 times
Years Active in T20Is	2006–2025+
Best World Cup Figures	4/9

Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga is a specialist T20 bowler with excellent wicket-taking abilities. He is the only Sri Lankan bowler to have taken over 140 wickets in T20 internationals. This is a significant achievement that highlights why Hasaranga is considered a key bowler for Sri Lanka. His services for the Lankan Lions will be crucial in the upcoming T20 World Cup, as fans are expecting him to deliver strong performances in home conditions.

Stat Category	Career T20I Bowling Stats for Wanindu Hasaranga
Matches	90
Innings Bowled	88
Balls Bowled	1998
Wickets	146
Bowling Average	15.86
Economy Rate	6.95 runs per over
Strike Rate	13.60 balls per wicket
Best Bowling in an Inning (BBI)	4/9
Five‑Wicket Hauls (5‑for)	0 times
Years Active in T20Is	2019–2025+
Best World Cup Figures	4/9

Adil Rashid

Adil Rashid is the only England bowler who has showcased stunning consistency in T20 cricket during the last few years. Many people recognize him as an ODI specialist, however, his records in T20 cricket are also exceptional. He has taken 145 wickets in 134 matches with an economy of 7.48 runs. It can be safely said that Rashid is England’s go-to spinner in T20 cricket, as he has the ability to take wickets at any stage of the game.

Stat Category	Career T20I Bowling Stats for Adil Rashid
Matches	134
Innings Bowled	127
Balls Bowled	2780
Wickets	145
Bowling Average	23.93
Economy Rate	7.48 runs per over
Strike Rate	19.17 balls per wicket
Best Bowling in an Inning (BBI)	4/2
Five‑Wicket Hauls (5‑for)	0 times
Years Active in T20Is	2015–2025+
Best World Cup Figures	4/2

Final Words

Bowling in T20 cricket requires a special skill, because it is a format in which batters play with more freedom. Keeping this in view, those who have taken the most wickets in T20 cricket are certainly exceptional bowlers. Their ability to strike under difficult conditions deserves applause because it makes them stand out from the rest of the bowlers. The names listed above are one of the best T20 bowlers of all time, as they have performed strongly in this format by remaining highly consistent.