In the first two parts of our series, we looked at the best openers and middle-order batsmen in T20Is since the last T20 World Cup in 2016. Here, we will take a look at the top five pacers during this period (filter: only players from the teams featuring in the T20 World Cup 2020 are considered).
Kesrick Williams (41 wickets)
The Caribbean pacer is the highest wicket-taker in T20 internationals since the last edition of the World Cup. Williams has played 25 matches since then and has taken 41 wickets at an excellent average and strike-rate of 18.82 and 13.1 respectively.
He is not someone who bowls at express pace, but his variations are quite defective and thus help him to pick up wickets in clusters. Williams is a death-overs specialist and he does the job regularly for West Indies.
Jasprit Bumrah (40 wickets)
The Indian speedster has the second most number of wickets during this period. Bumrah has picked up 40 wickets in a total of 34 matches during this timeline, and he has done that at an excellent average of 19.97 and an equally good strike-rate of 17.9.
His economy of 6.67 during this tenure has been absolutely fabulous as well. Bumrah is a death-overs specialist like Williams but unlike him, the Indian bowls at an express pace and can land toe-crushing yorkers as well.
Chris Jordan (40 Wickets)
He had played a major role during England's run to the final of the 2016 World T20 and is England's leading wicket-taker in the shortest format since then as well. Jordan has picked up equal number of wickets as Bumrah since that mega-event, but he has done that in fewer matches (29). The Englishman is quite similar to Bumrah in terms of skills as he can bowl at a high pace and can deliver good yorkers too. However, his wickets have come at a much higher economy rate (8.70) than that of Bumrah, though his strike-rate of 15.3 has been much better than that of the Indian.
Bilal Khan (37 Wickets)
He might not be the most popular name in cricket, but the Omani international has been one of the best pacers during this period. Bilal's 37 wickets have come in 23 matches at an outstanding strike-rate and economy rate of 13.1 and 6.74 respectively. His skills might seem to be very limited as he neither has a high pace nor does he bowl consistent yorkers, but his strength lies in his tight lines and hard lengths, mixed with the odd variations of pace from time to time. So he is a street-smart operator.
Mustafizur Rahman (36 Wickets)
The left-arm pacer from Bangladesh is the fifth-highest wicket-taker during this period. Mustafizur doesn't have the best economy rate (8.94) but he has done very well as a wicket-taker. His 36 wickets have come in a total of 28 matches at an excellent strike-rate of 16.4. Mustafizur is someone who can be dangerous both with the new ball and at the death.
