Who so ever said that T20 was a batsman’s game, must be eating his own words after looking at some of the most skillfully bowled spells of bowling T20 matches. Bowlers have proven that even in the shortest format of the game, where batsmen attack from the start of the innings, if you have the skill, talent and guts, a bowler can very well control the game with the ball if he wants to.
This is very well documented in the following list of top 5 most career wickets in T20 internationals.
5. Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka 2008-2014) – 66 wickets
Matches: 39, Best Bowling: 6/8 Economy Rate: 6.45, 4Wkt/Inn: 3, 5Wkt/Inn:2
Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis holds the record of best bowling figures in a T20 international - 6/8
The Sri Lankan off-spinner Ajantha Mendis sits on no.5 in the list of most wickets in T20 career internationals.
Mendis burst on to the cricketing scene as a mystery spinner who used his fingers to turn the ball in a way it wasn’t supposed to be. He bamboozled even the best players of spin on his Test debut against India and was even more effective in T20s. Given that he had to bowl just 4 overs, he could use all of his variations to stop the flow of runs and pick up wickets.
He has taken 66 wickets in 39 T20 internationals with the best bowling of 6/8 against Australia and has taken 5 wickets in an innings 2 times.
4. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka 2006-2014) – 68 wickets
Matches: 57, Best Bowling: 5/31, Eco Rate: 7.25, 4Wkt/Inn: 0, 5Wkt/Inn: 1
Lasith Malinga captained Sri Lanka to the 2014 World T20 crown in Bangladesh.
Lasith Malinga of Sri Lanka is no.4 on the list of most career wickets in T20 matches.
The Slinga Malinga has 68 T20 international wickets to his name. One of the best short format bowlers, thanks to his pace variations and a really toe crushing yorker. He has an economy of 7.25 and is mostly used in the last 6-7 overs when Sri Lanka needs to stop the flow of runs.
Lasith Malinga also captained Sri Lanka to the 2014 World T20 championship.
3. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan 2006-2015) – 82 wickets
Matches: 80, Best Bowling: 4/11, Eco. Rate: 6.56, 4Wkt/Inn: 3, 5Wkt/Inn: 0
Shahid Afridi shined with the ball taking 12 wickets and winning the Man of the series award in 2007 World T20.
The mercurial Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi is at number 3 in most t20 wickets in the career with 82 wickets to his name.
He has played 80 matches and has an economy of 6.56. Afridi who was the hero of Pakistan’s 2009 World T20 victory has retired from One Day internationals and Tests. He has also announced that he would retire from T20s after the 2016 World T20 to be held in India.
2. Umar Gul (Pakistan 2007-2015) – 83 wickets
Matches: 58, Best Bowling: 5/6, Eco. Rate: 7.13, 4Wkt/Inn: 4, 5Wkt/Inn: 2
Umar Gul is the first bowler to take 5 wickets in an innings in a T20 internationals.
Umar Gul of Pakistan was the first bowler to take 5 wickets in an innings in T20 Internationals and has taken 83 wickets in 58 T20Is and is at number 2 on top 5 most career wickets in T20 games.
Umar Gul has best bowling figures of 5/6 and has an average of 16.71. One of the best opening bowlers in world cricket, he combines accuracy with pace to devastating effects. Possessing perhaps the best yorker in T20 cricket, he uses it for both starting and death overs.
Currently incapacitated due to injury, Gul is trying his hardest to make a comeback in the Pakistani team.
1. Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan 2009-2015) – 85 wickets
Matches: 64, Best Bowling: 4/19, Eco. Rate: 6.36, 4Wkt/Inn: 4, 5Wkt/Inn: 0
Saeed Ajmal is one of the most effective spinners in T20s today.
Saeed Ajmal leads the list of most career wickets in T20 international. He has taken 85 wickets in 64 matches with the best bowling of 4/19.
Before being banned due to his illegal bowling action and his subsequent ineffective comeback, he was one of the premier spinners in T20 internationals. His ability to make a fool of even the aptest players of spin gave him a tremendous advantage in the T20 arena.
Ajmal also proved to one of the best death over bowlers, frequently pulling Pakistan out of trouble with his skillful bowling.
(All stats updated till 18th July 2015)
