India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi share the record for the most wickets in first over for a bowler in T20 cricket.
Having made his name as an opening swing bowler, right-arm fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has already bagged 46 wickets in the very first over of T20 matches.
Pakistan’s current T20 international captain Shaheen Shah Afridi is joint-first on the list for the most wickets in first overs for a bowler in T20 cricket. The lethal left-arm pacer has scalped 46 wickets in the first over of T20 games.
The likes of Mohammad Amir, Sohail Tanvir and David Willey are some of the other bowlers who have claimed the most wickets in first over in T20 cricket across both the domestic and international level. Get the top five list.
Most wickets in first over for a bowler in T20 cricket
|
Player |
Wickets |
|
Shaheen Shah Afridi |
46 |
|
Bhuvneshwar Kumar |
46 |
|
Mohammad Amir |
41 |
|
Sohail Tanvir |
39 |
|
David Willey |
37 |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 46 wickets
Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the most successful bowler in providing early strikes in the first over in T20 cricket. Since making his T20 debut in 2009, the Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer has bagged 46 wickets in the first over in cricket’s shortest format. Among full-member ICC nations, Bhuvneshwar is the bowler to have taken the most wickets (18) in first overs in T20Is. Apart from representing the Indian cricket team and Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit, Bhuvneshwar has played for Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad in the Indian T20 League.
Shaheen Afridi | 46 wickets
Shaheen Afridi has the joint wickets in first over for a bowler in T20 cricket. Known to trouble the batters with his lethal pace bowling, Shaheen Afridi has scalped 46 wickets in the first over in T20 cricket so far. In his short career, Afridi has also donned the jerseys of several T20 franchises including Lahore Qalandars, Comilla Victorians, Welsh Fire and Desert Vipers to name a few. Following his success in the T20I format, he replaced Babar Azam as Pakistan’s new T20I captain. He has taken 13 wickets for Pakistan in his opening overs in T20Is.
Mohammad Amir | 41 wickets
Another Pakistan left-arm fast bowler, Mohammad Amir, is third on the list. Having made his T20 debut in 2008, Amir has picked up 41 wickets in the opening over in the shortest format. Amir finished as one of Pakistan’s leading wicket-takers in T20I format. Additionally, the experienced pacer played for numerous franchises across the globe. Bangla Tigers, Barbados Royals, Chittagong Vikings, Desert Vipers, Fortune Barishal, Galle Gladiators, Jamaica Tallawahs, Karachi Kings, Khulna Tigers and Quetta Gladiators are some of the teams that Amir has represented so far.
Sohail Tanvir | 39 wickets
Just like Shaheen Afridi and Mohammed Amir, another former Pakistan left-arm pacer Sohail Tanvir features next on the list. Having tormented the batters with his unorthodox left arm bowling action, Sohail Tanvir took 39 wickets in the first over in T20 cricket. Along with a successful T20I career for the national side, Tanvir spearheaded bowling attacks for several franchises including Guyana Amazon Warriors, Kandy Tuskers, Karachi Kings, Multan Sultans, Quetta Gladiators, Team Rajasthan, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and St Lucia Zouks. His bowling played a key role in Rajasthan winning the inaugural Indian T20 League in 2008.
David Willey | 37 wickets
England’s David Willey completes the top five list. The talented left-arm pacer has been a wicket-taker for any side that he plays for in cricket’s shortest format. Since his T20 debut in 2009, Willey has scalped 37 wickets in the opening over of T20 matches. The bowling all-rounder has taken 15 wickets in his first overs for England so far. Having made his name as a T20 specialist, Willey has also donned jerseys of Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Bangla Tigers, Team Chennai, Durban’s Super Giants, Multan Sultans, Perth Scorchers, Team Bangalore and Welsh Fire in the various T20 leagues.
Photo credit: Alamy
