Most wickets in T20 World Cup 2026

The best white-ball bowlers in cricket have assembled in India and Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup 2026 and the race to finish as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament is gathering pace.

Co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup is being played across multiple venues in the subcontinent, forcing bowlers to adapt swiftly to contrasting conditions, including spin-friendly surfaces and high-scoring grounds with short boundaries.

The tournament has already witnessed several match-winning spells. West Indies’ Romario Shepherd boasts the best bowling figures in the T20 World Cup 2026 so far with figures of 5/20 against Scotland.

So far, USA’s Shadley van Schalkwyk has claimed the most wickets in T20 World Cup 2026 with 13 scalps from four matches.

Here’s an updated list of the players who have taken the most wickets in the T20 World Cup 2026 till now.

Most wickets in T20 World Cup 2026

* List updated daily

The T20 World Cup, first held in 2007, has largely followed a two-year cycle. Finishing as the highest wicket-taker in a single edition remains a rare and prestigious achievement, reflecting sustained excellence against the world’s top batters.

A total of nine bowlers, including six from Asia, have finished as the top wicket-takers in T20 World Cup history.

Pakistan’s Umar Gul (2007, 2009) and Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga (2021, 2022) are the only bowlers to have topped the wicket charts in two different editions.

South Africa’s Imran Tahir and the Netherlands’ Ahsan Malik were the joint-highest wicket-takers in 2014 with 12 wickets each.

The last edition in 2024 also saw joint leaders with Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi and India’s Arshdeep Singh finishing with 17 wickets each. It is also the record for most wickets by a bowler at any single T20 World Cup edition.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s tally of 16 wickets at the 2021 edition, held in the UAE and Oman, was the previous record. Hasaranga also topped the charts in the 2022 edition hosted by Australia with 15 scalps.

Pakistan’s Umar Gul set the early benchmark with 13 wickets in seven matches at the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 and became the first bowler to achieve the feat in consecutive editions when he repeated the tally in 2009.

Australia’s Dirk Nannes (2010), Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis (2012) and Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi (2016) are the other bowlers who have finished as the top wicket-takers in a T20 World Cup edition.

Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan remains the highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history, with 50 wickets from 43 innings.

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