Ajantha Mendis holds the record for the best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history, with 6/8 against Zimbabwe in 2012. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup stands as one of the most thrilling cricket tournaments in the world. Since its start in 2007, the competition has seen legendary bowlers showcase their skills on the biggest stage.
Several players have left their mark with match-winning spells over multiple editions. In this article, we look at the top 10 best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history.
Top 10 Bowling Figures in T20 World Cup History
Let’s dive deep into the bowling stats in the T20 World Cup.
| Player | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAW Mendis (SL) | 4.0 | 8 | 6 | 2.00 | Sri Lanka | v Zimbabwe | 18 Sep 2012 |
| HMRKB Herath (SL) | 3.3 | 3 | 5 | 0.85 | Sri Lanka | v New Zealand | 31 Mar 2014 |
| Umar Gul (PAK) | 3.0 | 6 | 5 | 2.00 | Pakistan | v New Zealand | 13 Jun 2009 |
| Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG) | 4.0 | 9 | 5 | 2.25 | Afghanistan | v Uganda | 3 Jun 2024 |
| SM Curran (ENG) | 3.4 | 10 | 5 | 2.72 | England | v Afghanistan | 22 Oct 2022 |
| AJ Hosein (WI) | 4.0 | 11 | 5 | 2.75 | West Indies | v Uganda | 8 Jun 2024 |
| Ahsan Malik (NED) | 4.0 | 19 | 5 | 4.75 | Netherlands | v South Africa | 27 Mar 2014 |
| A Zampa (AUS) | 4.0 | 19 | 5 | 4.75 | Australia | v Bangladesh | 4 Nov 2021 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG) | 4.0 | 20 | 5 | 5.00 | Afghanistan | v Scotland | 25 Oct 2021 |
| Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) | 4.0 | 22 | 5 | 5.50 | Bangladesh | v New Zealand | 26 Mar 2016 |
1. Ajantha Mendis (6/8)
Ajantha Mendis sits at the top of the T20 World Cup bowling charts with 6/8. The Sri Lankan mystery spinner achieved this feat against Zimbabwe in the tournament opener at Hambantota on 18 September 2012. He maintained an incredible economy rate of 2.00 while bowling two maiden overs in his four-over spell.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAW Mendis (SL) | 4.0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2.00 | Sri Lanka | v Zimbabwe |
Mendis destroyed Zimbabwe’s batting lineup with his carrom balls and googlies. He struck in his very first spell by bowling Vusi Sibanda with a delivery that held its line. Brendan Taylor fell to a carrom ball next ball, stumped by Kumar Sangakkara. Mendis then removed Hamilton Masakadza with a googly that burst through the gate. He returned to pick Craig Ervine and Malcolm Waller, both of whom were stumped by his variations. His final two wickets came in his last over as he trapped Kyle Jarvis lbw with a googly and bowled Graeme Cremer with a ball that didn’t turn enough. Sri Lanka won by 82 runs as Zimbabwe crumbled for just 100.
2. Rangana Herath (5/3)
Rangana Herath ranks second with 5/3 in T20 World Cup history. The Sri Lankan left-arm spinner delivered this spell against New Zealand at Chattogram on 31 March 2014. He bowled 3.3 overs with an astonishing economy rate of 0.85, conceding just three runs while taking five wickets.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMRKB Herath (SL) | 3.3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.85 | Sri Lanka | v New Zealand |
Sri Lanka had posted a modest 119 after being put into bat. Herath entered the attack in the fourth over and immediately made an impact. He combined with Sangakkara to run out Martin Guptill off his first delivery. Five balls later, he coaxed Brendon McCullum out of his crease and had him stumped. Herath then trapped Ross Taylor lbw and bowled James Neesham through the gate in consecutive balls. Luke Ronchi became his fourth victim, also lbw. He completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Trent Boult, caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene. New Zealand collapsed for 60 as Sri Lanka won by 59 runs and topped their group.
3. Umar Gul (5/6)
Umar Gul ranks third with 5/6 in the T20 World Cup. The Pakistani fast bowler delivered this spell against New Zealand at The Oval on 13 June 2009. He bowled just three overs but wreaked havoc with the ball, becoming the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20 International cricket.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umar Gul (PAK) | 3.0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2.00 | Pakistan | v New Zealand |
Pakistan faced a must-win situation against New Zealand in the Super Eight stage. After Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi reduced New Zealand to 72/4 in 12 overs, Gul entered the attack. He combined good pace, yorkers, and reverse swing to devastating effect. Gul dismantled New Zealand’s lower order as they collapsed from 72/4 to 99 all out before he could even start his fourth over. His spell helped Pakistan chase down the target in 13.1 overs and stay alive in the tournament. Less than two weeks later, Pakistan lifted the T20 World Cup trophy at Lord’s.
4. Fazalhaq Farooqi (5/9)
Fazalhaq Farooqi takes the fourth spot with 5/9 in T20 World Cup history. The Afghan left-arm seamer delivered this spell against Uganda at Providence Stadium on 3 June 2024. He bowled four overs at an economy rate of 2.25 in his maiden T20 World Cup five-wicket haul.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG) | 4.0 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 2.25 | Afghanistan | v Uganda |
Afghanistan had posted 183/5 after brilliant fifties from Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. Farooqi then set the tone with the ball by removing Ronak Patel and Roger Mukasa off consecutive deliveries in the very first over. Both balls swung in late, leaving the batters with little time to react. Riazat Ali Shah survived the hat-trick ball, but Uganda never recovered. Farooqi returned later to clean up Riazat, had captain Brian Masaba caught behind, and completed his five-for by dismissing Robinson Obuya caught behind in the same over. Uganda were bowled out for just 58 as Afghanistan won by 125 runs.
5. Sam Curran (5/10)
Sam Curran occupies the fifth position with 5/10 in the T20 World Cup. The English left-arm seamer delivered this spell against Afghanistan at Perth on 22 October 2022. He bowled 3.4 overs and became the first England men’s bowler to take a T20I five-wicket haul.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SM Curran (ENG) | 3.4 | 0 | 10 | 5 | 2.72 | England | v Afghanistan |
England had put Afghanistan in to bat at the lively Optus Stadium. Curran was introduced in the middle overs and dismissed the well-set Ibrahim Zadran with a slower delivery. Afghanistan were cruising at 109/5 when Curran returned at the death and triggered an astonishing collapse. He bounced out Azmatullah Omarzai, then dismissed Rashid Khan for a golden duck off the next ball, leaving him on a hat-trick. After Chris Woakes claimed Mujeeb Ur Rahman with a return catch, Curran dismissed Usman Ghani and Fazalhaq Farooqi in quick succession to complete his five-for. Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for just three runs in 12 balls and were bowled out for 112.
6. Akeal Hosein (5/11)
Akeal Hosein stands sixth with 5/11 in the T20 World Cup. The West Indian left-arm spinner delivered this spell against Uganda at Providence Stadium on 8 June 2024. He bowled four overs with an economy rate of 2.75, using drift and spin to devastating effect.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AJ Hosein (WI) | 4.0 | 0 | 11 | 5 | 2.75 | West Indies | v Uganda |
West Indies had posted 173/5 after contributions from Johnson Charles and Andre Russell. Hosein opened the bowling and struck off his second delivery when Roger Mukasa was trapped lbw by a seam-up delivery that swung in. He came back in the third over to trap Alpesh Ramjani lbw. Riazat Ali Shah became his third victim an Over later. The Ugandan batters simply couldn’t read Hosein, who used the arm-ball relentlessly. He picked two more wickets in his final over to complete his maiden five-wicket haul. Uganda was bowled out for just 39, which is the joint-lowest total in T20 World Cup history. West Indies won by 134 runs.
7. Ahsan Malik (5/19)
Ahsan Malik takes the seventh spot with 5/19 in T20 World Cup history. The Netherlands fast bowler delivered this spell against South Africa at Chattogram on 27 March 2014. He bowled four overs and remains the only Associate nation bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20 World Cups.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ahsan Malik (NED) | 4.0 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 4.75 | Netherlands | v South Africa |
South Africa were put into bat and looked set for a big total at 92/3 at the halfway mark. Malik then wrecked the formidable South African batting lineup with his medium pace. His career-best figures restricted the Proteas to 145/9 in 20 overs. The Netherlands gave South Africa a real scare, with Stephan Myburgh blasting 51 off 28 balls at the top. Despite Malik’s heroic spell, the Netherlands fell just six runs short of victory as Imran Tahir and Dale Steyn pulled things back. Malik finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker of the 2014 T20 World Cup with 12 wickets.
8. Adam Zampa (5/19)
Adam Zampa holds the eighth position with 5/19 in T20 World Cup history. The Australian leg-spinner delivered this spell against Bangladesh at Dubai International Stadium on 4 November 2021. He bowled four overs and registered the best figures by an Australian bowler in the T20 World Cups.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Zampa (AUS) | 4.0 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 4.75 | Australia | v Bangladesh |
Australia needed a big win to improve their net run rate in the semifinal race. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood had reduced Bangladesh to 33/5 in the powerplay. Zampa was rewarded with a wicket on his first ball post-powerplay when Afif Hossain nicked to first slip. He then had Shamim Hossain caught behind and trapped Mahedi Hasan lbw off consecutive balls.
Though Matthew Wade dropped the hat-trick chance, Zampa came back to dismiss Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam in quick succession. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 73 in 15 overs. Australia chased down the target in just 6.2 overs, with Aaron Finch smashing 40 off 20 balls.
9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (5/20)
Mujeeb Ur Rahman ranks ninth with 5/20 in the T20 World Cup. The Afghan mystery spinner delivered this spell against Scotland at Sharjah on 25 October 2021. He bowled four overs and became the first player to take a five-wicket haul on his T20 World Cup debut.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG) | 4.0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 5.00 | Afghanistan | v Scotland |
Afghanistan had posted 190/4 after big hitting from Najibullah Zadran, Hazratullah Zazai, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. Scotland started well with George Munsey and Kyle Coetzer putting on 28 in the first three overs. Mujeeb then turned the match on its head in the fourth over by taking three wickets.
He bowled Coetzer with a googly, trapped Calum MacLeod lbw with another googly, and then dismissed Richie Berrington lbw. In the matter of five balls, the match swung completely in Afghanistan’s favor. Mujeeb picked up two more wickets in his final over as Scotland were bowled out for just 60 in 10.2 overs. Afghanistan won by 130 runs, their biggest victory in T20Is.
10. Mustafizur Rahman (5/22)
Mustafizur Rahman completes the top ten with 5/22 in the T20 World Cup. The Bangladeshi left-arm pacer delivered this spell against New Zealand at Eden Gardens on 26 March 2016. He bowled four overs and became the first Bangladeshi bowler to take a five-wicket haul in T20 World Cup history.
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) | 4.0 | 0 | 22 | 5 | 5.50 | Bangladesh | v New Zealand |
New Zealand had elected to bat in this dead rubber match. Mustafizur showcased his famous cutters and slower variations to devastating effect. He struck in his first over by bowling Henry Nicholls. In his second spell, he dismissed captain Kane Williamson with a clever delivery that came faster and bowled him round his legs.
He then removed Grant Elliott, caught brilliantly by Shuvagata Hom running backwards. Mustafizur completed his five-for in the final over by dismissing Mitchell Santner and Nathan McCullum off consecutive balls. Despite his heroics, Bangladesh collapsed for 70 in the chase and lost by 75 runs. His spell won the ESPNcricinfo Award for the best T20 performance of 2016.
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Conclusion: Ajantha Mendis Has the Best Bowling Figures in T20 World Cup History (6/8)
The top 10 bowlers with the best figures in T20 World Cup history have shaped the tournament with match-winning spells over the years. Ajantha Mendis leads the pack with 6/8 and continues to inspire future generations. Players like Rangana Herath, Umar Gul, and Sam Curran have shown that tight bowling can win matches on the biggest stage.
The mix of established legends and modern-day stars on this list shows the global appeal of T20 World Cup cricket. These bowlers have provided countless memorable moments and will continue to be remembered as the tournament grows in stature.
