Key Points:
- T20 cricket is now the most popular cricket format worldwide, dominated by power-hitting batsmen and crafty bowlers.
- Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan tops the list of all-time T20 bowlers with 660 wickets in 487 matches.
- No Indian bowler features in the top 10 despite India’s cricketing dominance.
- Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) and Sunil Narine occupy second and third spots.
- India’s Yuzvendra Chahal is the highest-ranked Indian bowler at No. 14 with 380 wickets.
- BCCI’s restriction on Indian players in foreign leagues cited as a key reason for fewer opportunities.
New Delhi: The explosive popularity of T20 cricket has made it the crown jewel of international cricket as well as franchise leagues like the IPL, CPL, and Big Bash. While the format is often considered a batsman’s paradise, bowlers have also carved out space for themselves with variations, yorkers, and economical spells.
Indian cricket has largely been known for its batting legends, from Sunil Gavaskar to Virat Kohli. But over decades, names like Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, R. Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah have stood out as remarkable bowlers across formats. Yet, when it comes to the all-time greatest wicket-takers in T20 cricket, India lags behind.
Rashid Khan Tops the T20 Bowling Charts
As per the updated all-format T20 statistics (international + domestic + league), Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan tops the list of most successful bowlers:
- Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 660 wickets, 487 matches (2015–2025)
- Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) – 631 wickets, 582 matches (2006–2024)
- Sunil Narine (West Indies) – 590 wickets, 557 matches (2011–2025)
- Imran Tahir (South Africa) – 554 wickets, 436 matches (2006–2025, still active at 46)
- Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh) – 502 wickets, 457 matches (2006–2025)
- Andre Russell (West Indies) – 487 wickets, 564 matches (2010–2025)
- Chris Jordan (England) – 438 wickets, 418 matches (2008–2025)
- Wahab Riaz (Pakistan) – 438 wickets, 348 matches (2005–2023)
- Mohammad Amir (Pakistan) – 401 wickets, 344 matches (2008–2025)
- Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 390 wickets, 295 matches (2004–2020)
No Indian in Top 10: Chahal Closest at No. 14
Despite the IPL giving a global platform to Indian talent, no Indian bowler has cracked the top 10 T20 all-time list. The closest is leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who stands at No. 14 with 380 wickets in 326 matches (2009–2025).
Many analysts argue that Chahal could have entered the top 10 had he been selected more consistently in recent years for international matches.
Interestingly, in Test and ODI bowling lists, several Indians (Ashwin, Kumble, Bumrah) find a spot in the top ranks, highlighting the contrast between formats.
Why Indian Bowlers Miss Out on the Elite T20 List
The key reason lies in BCCI’s strict policy which prohibits Indian cricketers from playing in foreign franchise leagues such as the CPL, BBL, and The Hundred.
- Limited opportunities: Indian bowlers can only earn T20 wickets in IPL, domestic tournaments, and international matches, while their global peers play year-round across leagues.
- Exposure gap: Bowlers like Rashid Khan, Bravo, and Narine feature in almost every league, giving them far greater exposure and opportunities to accumulate wickets.
- Selection dynamics: Rotational selection policies in India also restrict the number of games players like Chahal and other bowlers get compared to international freelance stars.
This disparity in playing opportunities is the biggest roadblock preventing Indian bowlers from entering T20’s all-time elite ranks.
Can Indian Bowlers Break the Barrier?
With the IPL continuing to be the world’s biggest T20 platform, Indian bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Chahal, and young spinners such as Ravi Bishnoi still have chances to push higher in the rankings. However, unless the BCCI reconsiders its stance on overseas league participation, Indian bowlers will remain handicapped in crossing milestone records.
