New Zealand pacer Tim Southee has the record for most wickets in T20Is with 129 scalps to his name in the shortest format.
Since making his T20I debut in 2008 against England in Auckland, the right-arm pacer has represented New Zealand in 105 matches in the shortest format. During this time, he has maintained an economy rate of 8.15.
Furthermore, he has also picked one four-wicket haul and one five-wicket haul. Southee's best bowling figures in this format were against Pakistan in December 2010, picking five wickets while conceding only 18 runs off his four overs.
Shakib Al Hasan, who has picked the most wickets in T20 World Cup, has a total of 128 scalps to his name in the shortest format. The left-arm spinner has represented Bangladesh in 108 matches in the shortest format. He has maintained a commendable economy of 6.83.
Shakib’s tally of 128 wickets could have been even greater if it was not for the ban that was imposed on him in late 2019. As a result of this, the veteran all-rounder missed the entirety of the 2020 calendar and only returned to international cricket in July 2021. While his form did deter in the initial games, he picked up the pace eventually.
Shakib has also picked as many as five four-wicket hauls, the first of which came in only his second match against the West Indies. His only five-wicket haul in this format has also come against the Caribbean side.
Third on the list is the seasoned T20 cricketer Rashid Khan. The former Afghanistan captain has picked a total of 122 wickets in just 74 matches to date. Rashid has the best economy rate (6.25) among bowlers who have picked more than 100 wickets in the shortest format.
New Zealand leg-spinner Ish Sodhi has scalped 109 wickets in 86 T20Is. During his career in the shortest format, Sodhi has picked three four-wicket hauls. Completing the top five list is the Sri Lankan veteran Lasith Malinga, who finished his career with 107 wickets in 84 matches. Interestingly, only five bowlers have managed to breach the century of scalps.
Most wickets in T20Is
| Player | Team | Matches | Wickets | Economy | 4w | 5w |
| Tim Southee | New Zealand | 105 | 129 | 8.15 | 1 | 1 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 109 | 128 | 6.83 | 5 | 1 |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 74 | 122 | 6.25 | 4 | 2 |
| Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 86 | 109 | 8.03 | 3 | 0 |
| Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 84 | 107 | 7.42 | 1 | 2 |
| Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 99 | 98 | 6.63 | 3 | 0 |
| Shadab Khan | Pakistan | 83 | 97 | 7.06 | 3 | 0 |
| Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | 78 | 97 | 7.63 | 3 | 1 |
| Adil Rashid | England | 90 | 90 | 7.47 | 2 | 0 |
| Chris Jordan | England | 82 | 90 | 8.71 | 3 | 0 |
Featured photo: Saeed KHAN / AFP
