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ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has always been a battleground where the batter-dominated narrative goes to die. While the shortest format is often celebrated for its towering sixes and lightning-fast hundreds, the history of the tournament proves that it is the bowlers who truly dictate the destination of the trophy. From the swing-friendly conditions of South Africa in 2007 to the slow, turning tracks of the Caribbean in 2024, the leading wicket-takers have consistently been the tactical pivots for their teams.
As we stand on the cusp of the 10th edition in 2026, hosted by India and Sri Lanka, the legacy of these record holders offers a fascinating roadmap of how T20 bowling has evolved from raw pace to mystery spin and, eventually, to the era of the high-skill left-armers.
Leading wicket-takers in each edition of the T20 World Cup
The history of the T20 World Cup is a chronicle of bowling innovation. Below is a detailed breakdown of the masters who topped the charts in every edition to date.
2007 T20 World Cup – Umar Gul (Pakistan)
The inaugural edition in South Africa was the stage where Umar Gul perfected the art of the death-over yorker. He was the spearhead of Pakistan’s journey to the final, finishing with 13 wickets. Gul’s campaign was defined by his incredible ability to reverse the ball, most notably against New Zealand in the semi-final, where his 3/15 earned him the Player of the Match. Despite his heroics, including three wickets in the final against India, Gul finished as a runner-up. He ended with an average of 11.92 and a staggering economy of 5.60.
2009 T20 World Cup – Umar Gul (Pakistan)
Making history, Gul became the first and only bowler to lead the wicket-taking charts in consecutive editions. In 2009, he again claimed 13 wickets, but this time, he walked away with the trophy. His career-best 5/6 against New Zealand at The Oval remains one of the most iconic spells in the tournament’s history. Gul’s relentless accuracy ensured Pakistan’s dominance, as he led a pack that included Ajantha Mendis and Lasith Malinga.
2010 T20 World Cup – Dirk Nannes (Australia)
As the tournament moved to the Caribbean, Australia’s Dirk Nannes brought searing pace to the fore. Nannes finished with 14 wickets at an average of 13.07. His ability to extract bounce on the West Indies tracks made him a nightmare for top orders, particularly against Pakistan and India. Although he went wicketless in the final as Australia lost to England, Nannes’ performance remains the high-water mark for Australian fast bowling in T20 World Cups.
2012 T20 World Cup – Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka)
The 2012 edition belonged to the mystery of Ajantha Mendis. Playing on home soil, Mendis dismantled batting lineups to finish with 15 wickets. He began the tournament with a world-record 6/8 against Zimbabwe, a record that stood for seven years. In the final, he was nearly untouchable, taking 4/12 against a powerhouse West Indies lineup, though the West Indies eventually snatched the title.
2014 T20 World Cup – Imran Tahir (South Africa) & Ahsan Malik (Netherlands)
The 2014 edition in Bangladesh saw a rare tie at the top, with both Imran Tahir and Ahsan Malik taking 12 wickets. Tahir was the heartbeat of the Proteas’ spin attack, while Malik became the face of Associate nation excellence. Malik’s 5/19 against South Africa was a historic performance, highlighting the narrowing gap between the established giants and rising teams.
2016 T20 World Cup – Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan)
This tournament marked the arrival of Afghanistan as a global bowling powerhouse. Mohammad Nabi topped the list with 12 wickets, outshining even his teammate Rashid Khan. Nabi’s veteran intelligence was on full display in the Super 10s, where his calm final over against the West Indies (the eventual champions) secured a historic win for Afghanistan.
2021 T20 World Cup – Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Wanindu Hasaranga redefined the role of the modern leg-spinner in the UAE, claiming 16 wickets in just 8 matches. His campaign included a hat-trick against South Africa and a brilliant 3/21 against England. Hasaranga’s economy of 5.20 and average of 9.75 showcased a level of dominance rarely seen in the format.
2022 T20 World Cup – Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Proving his 2021 performance was no fluke, Hasaranga topped the charts again in Australia with 15 wickets. His wily variations worked even on the larger Australian grounds, making him the only spinner to rival Umar Gul’s record of leading back-to-back tournaments.
2024 T20 World Cup – Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) & Arshdeep Singh (India)
The most recent edition in the USA and Caribbean saw a new benchmark set. Afghanistan’s Fazalhaq Farooqi and India’s Arshdeep Singh shared the honors with 17 wickets each, the most ever in a single edition. Farooqi’s 5/9 against Uganda and Arshdeep’s match-winning 2/20 in the final against South Africa proved that left-arm pace is currently the most lethal weapon in T20 cricket.
Also READ: From Virat Kohli to Babar Azam: Leading run-scorers in each edition of T20 World Cup
Who will lead the numbers game in 2026?
With the 2026 T20 World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka, the subcontinental conditions will undoubtedly favor spin-heavy attacks and masters of change-of-pace. Rashid remains a perennial favorite; his unmatched experience and recent form make him a prime candidate to reclaim the top spot. However, the emergence of Varun Chakaravarthy, currently the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, suggests he could be India’s greatest weapon on home soil.
Don’t overlook the defending champions’ pace duo; Arshdeep Singh has a knack for peaking at ICC events, while Jasprit Bumrah continues to be the gold standard for economy and breakthroughs. From Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga will be hunting for a third most wickets title in front of his home crowd. On these turning tracks, the battle for the most wickets will likely be a high-stakes chess match between elite wrist-spinners and crafty left-arm seamers.
Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Complete squads of all teams along with their captains
