With the 2026 T20 World Cup just around the corner, twenty teams will battle for cricket’s most explosive global trophy. With the T20 cricket extravaganza set to commence on Feb. 7, let’s take a look at some incredible bowling records from the rich history of T20 World Cups.
Best Bowling Figures In An innings
Sri Lanka’s mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis holds the all‑time record with astonishing figures of 6/8 against Zimbabwe in Hambantota during the 2012 T20 World Cup. This remains the best bowling performance in the tournament’s history.
Most Wickets Taken
Bangladesh all‑rounder Shakib Al Hasan is the leading wicket‑taker across all T20 World Cups, with 50 wickets in 43 matches spanning nine editions (2007–2024). Remarkably, he achieved this without ever taking a five‑wicket haul in the tournament.
Most Five-Wicket Hauls
No bowler has managed to pick more then one five-wicket haul in T20 World Cups. But there have been 12 different bowlers who have recorded a fifer in a T20 World Cup game. These bowlers are –
- Umar Gul – 5/6 vs NZ (2009)
- Ajantha Mendis – 6/8 vs ZIM (2012)
- Rangana Herath – 5/3 vs NZ (2014)
- Ahsan Malik – 5/19 vs SA (2014)
- Mustafizur Rahman – 5/22 vs NZ (2016)
- James Faulkner – 5/27 vs PAK (2016)
- Adam Zampa – 5/19 vs BAN (2021)
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman – 5/20 vs SCO (2021)
- Sam Curran – 5/10 vs AFG (2022)
- Fazalhaq Farooqi – 5/9 vs UGA (2024)
- Akeal Hosein – 5/11 vs UGA (2024)
- Lasith Malinga – 5/31 vs ENG (2012)
Most Wickets In A Single Edition Of The T20 World Cup
Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqui and India’s Arshdeep Singh both picked 17 wickets each during the 2024 T20 World Cup. This is the most wickets claimed by a bowler in a single edition of the tournament.
Most Hat-Tricks
Eight different bowlers have completed a hat-trick in a T20 World Cup game but only one bowler has manged to repeat the feat twice at the World Cups. Australia’s Pat Cummins took hat-tricks against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the 2024 edition.
- Brett Lee – Australia vs Bangladesh, 2007, Cape Town
- Curtis Campher – Ireland vs Netherlands, 2021, Abu Dhabi (Took four wickets in four balls)
- Wanindu Hasaranga – Sri Lanka vs South Africa, 2021, Sharjah
- Kagiso Rabada – South Africa vs England, 2021, Sharjah
- Karthik Meiyappan – UAE vs Sri Lanka, 2022, Geelong
- Josh Little – Ireland vs New Zealand, 2022, Adelaide
- Pat Cummins – Australia vs Bangladesh, 2024, North Sound
- Pat Cummins – Australia vs Afghanistan, 2024, Kingstown
- Chris Jordan – England vs United States of America, 2024, Bridgetown
Best Economy Rate
New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson delivered an unprecedented spell of 4 overs, 4 maidens, 0 runs, 3 wickets (4‑4‑0‑3) against Papua New Guinea at Tarouba in 2024. With an economy of 0, this is the most economical spell ever in T20 World Cup history and the first instance of four consecutive maidens in the tournament.
Most Runs Conceded In An Innings
Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka is at the other spectrum as he conceded 64 runs in 4 overs, the most runs conceded by a bowler in a spell. It happened during the inaugural edition in 2007 against Pakistan in Johannesburg.
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