T20 World Cup: T20 cricket is always a batsman’s game. But bowlers also have an equal impact on the result of any game. That is the reason that a team with a balanced bowling attack does tend to finish in the top positions in any tournament. And it has happened many times that irrespective of the batting performance, the bowlers have won their team that particular game.
According to the statistics, in any edition of the T20 World Cup, some bowlers put in outstanding performances and help their teams win games. So, in this article, we will discuss the list of bowlers with the most wickets in a single edition of the T20 World Cup.
1. Wanindu Hasaranga (16 wickets) in the 2021 T20 World Cup
Sri Lanka has always produced some of the greatest spinners that the game has seen. The latest addition to this ever-growing list is leg-spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga. The leg-spinner had a dream tournament in the last edition of the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
He played every match for Sri Lanka and set the record for most wickets in a single tournament. Hasaranga picked up 16 wickets in 8 matches, at an incredible economy rate of 5.20 and a bowling average of 9.75. He was one of the reasons that Sri Lanka had a fairly decent campaign in the last World Cup.
2. Ajantha Mendis (15 wickets) in the 2012 T20 World Cup
Another bowler on the list is a spinner from Sri Lanka. But this time, it is the mystery spinner, Ajantha Mendis. He has played in four T20I World Cups for Sri Lanka. He was very hard for the batters to pick because of his variations and was at his peak between 2011 and 2013.
Sri Lanka made it to the final of the 2012 World Cup largely thanks to the incredible performance of Ajantha Mendis. He ended the tournament as the highest wicket-taker and second highest overall. Mendis took a total of 15 wickets in just 6 games, with a best bowling figure of 6/8. He also took one five-wicket and one four-wicket haul.
3. Wanindu Hasaranga (15 Wickets) in the 2022 T20 World Cup
Wanindu Hasaranga is already on 1st place for the most wickets in single edition of T20 World Cup. He now holds this record back to back first in 2021 and now in 2022.
4. Dirk Nannes (14 wickets) in the 2010 T20 World Cup
The next bowler on the list is a player that has represented two countries at the international level. Starting his career playing for the Netherlands, Dirk Nannes ended up playing in Australia. Nannes, who was playing for Australia in the 2010 World Cup, took 14 wickets and emerged as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker.
He played seven matches and picked up wickets at an average of 13.07 and an economy rate of 7.03, with a best figure of 4/18. That was the reason that the Men in Yellow reached the final of that edition. But Australia lost the final match at the hands of England.
Most wickets in single edition of T20 World Cup
| Player | Matches | Wkts | BBI | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) | 8 | 16 | 3/9 | 2021 |
| Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) | 6 | 15 | 6/8 | 2012 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (SL) | 8 | 15 | 3/8 | 2022 |
| Dirk Nannes (Australia) | 7 | 14 | 4/18 | 2010 |
| Umar Gul (Pakistan) | 7 | 13 | 4/25 | 2007 |
| Adam Zampa (Australia) | 7 | 13 | 5/19 | 2021 |
| Umar Gul (Pakistan) | 7 | 13 | 5/6 | 2009 |
| Trent Boult (New Zealand) | 7 | 13 | 3/17 | 2021 |
| Imran Tahir (South Africa) | 5 | 12 | 4/21 | 2013 |
| Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) | 7 | 12 | 3/9 | 2009 |
| Stuart Clark (Australia) | 6 | 12 | 4/20 | 2007 |