Curated By: Peuli Bakshi
News18.com
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New Delhi, India
R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja during T20 World Cup 2022 and 2021, respectively.
The T20 World Cup 2024 begins June 1 and the inaugural champions India will be eying to get their hands on the silverware for the second time. They were the semi-finalist last edition and with a strong 15-member squad they will hope to recreate what MS Dhoni managed with a young squad in South Africa in 2007. India players have always made a mark in the tournament over the years with Virat Kohli leading the all-time run-getter list, and off-spinner R Ashwin in the top ten wicket-taker’s list.
Here are the top 10 wicket-takers for India in the history of the tournament.
1. Ravichandran Ashwin
R Ashwin is the highest wicket-taker for India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history with 32 wickets in his 24 T20 World Cup appearances, spanning across 5 World Cups.
The Tamil Nadu bowler stands at no. 7 in the all-time tally, boasting an economy of 6.49 and a 4-fer to his name. His best bowling in innings (BBI) is 4 wickets for just 11 runs against Australia in Mirpur in 2014. In that edition, he picked up 11 wickets at a stunning average of under 12.
2. Ravindra Jadeja
The left-arm orthodox bowler has taken 21 wickets for India in the 22 T20 World Cup matches he played. His BBI is 3 wickets for just 14 runs with an economy of 7.14 vs Scotland in Dubai in 2021.
With experience of 5 T20 World Cups 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, and 2021 – it comes as no surprise that the Saurashtra all-rounder stands at no. 2 in the list of most wicket-takers for India in T20 World Cups.
READ MORE: Full List of T20 World Cup 2024 Squads
3. Irfan Pathan
The talented swing bowler represented India in three World T20s. He has 16 wickets in 14 matches, with an economy of 7.46. His best bowling in innings is 3/16.
The all-rounder was a part of India’s winning campaign in the inaugural T20 World Cup, held in September 2007, where he snapped up 10 wickets at an economy of 14.90. He was also named the Man of the Match in India’s victorious final against Pakistan, owing to his crucial spell of 3 for 16.
4. Harbhajan Singh
The veteran was also a part of the Indian squad in the first-ever World T20 of 2007. The off-break bowler has played 19 matches in four T20 World Cups, taking 16 wickets.
With miserly economy of 6.78 in his T20 World Cups appearances, Harbhajan has the best bowling figures of 4 for 12 vs England in the 2012 T20 World Cup, when he helped India bundle out England for a mere 88.
5. Ashish Nehra
The former India fast bowler and current head coach of the Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL, Nehra has 15 wickets to his name with an economy of 6.89 in 10 T20 World Cup matches. His best bowling performance is 3/19, vs Afghanistan in 2010
Most of the left-arm medium-fast bowler’s cricketing career was plagued by injury. However, he made a stellar comeback in the 2016 World T20, which was his last World Cup. A year later, he announced his retirement from international cricket.
READ MORE: T20 World Cup 2024: India’s Highest Run-Getters in the History of the Tournament
6. RP Singh
The UP fast bowler represented India in the 2007 and 2009 T20 World Cups, claiming 14 wickets in 9 matches.
His notable T20 World Cup contribution was 4/13, during a group stage match vs South Africa in the inaugural edition.
7. Mohammed Shami
India’s seasoned fast bowler Shami has taken 14 wickets in his 14 T20 World Cup appearances. He has been a part of all editions of India’s World T20 squad since 2014. However, due to his surgery rehab, he will not be participating in the upcoming T20 World Cup, starting June 1.
His best figure of 3/15 in the T20 World Cup came against Scotland in 2021.
8. Hardik Pandya
The all-rounder is set to assist Rohit Sharma as the vice-captain of the Indian squad in the T20 World Cup 2024. He has represented India in three editions of the T20 World Cups — 2016, 2021, and 2022— and has taken 13 wickets in 16 matches he played.
He registered his best bowling figures of 3/30 during a group-stage match of last edition’s T20 World Cup against Pakistan.
9. Yuvraj Singh
The former explosive Indian all-rounder took 12 wickets in 31 matches of the T20 World Cup. He was a part of the Indian side in all the editions of the World T20 from 2007 till 2016
His best figure of 3/24 came during a 2012 group-stage match against South Africa. Yuvraj was named the player of the match for his match-winning contribution to India’s 1-run victory.
10. Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan represented India in the second, third, and fourth editions of the T20 World Cup, taking 12 wickets in as many matches.
The former India fast bowler, who was good with both old and the new ball, has the best figures of 4/19 that came against Ireland in 2009.
