Indian Bowlers with Most Wickets in a T20 World Cup
The 2026 T20 World Cup is almost upon us, with India and Sri Lanka hosting the tournament from February 7 to March 8. This will be the 10th edition of the competition. India enter the event as defending champions after lifting the trophy in 2024 under Rohit Sharma. India beat South Africa in a tense final in Barbados to win their second T20 World Cup title.
Their first came in the inaugural edition in 2007 under MS Dhoni. India finished runners-up in 2014 and reached the semi-finals in 2016 and 2022.
Across editions, India’s bowlers have produced match-winning spells. If India defend the title in 2026, they will become the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times.
Here is a look at the 5 Indian bowlers with the most wickets in a single T20 World Cup edition.
5. Hardik Pandya – 11 Wickets (2024 T20 World Cup)
Hardik Pandya played a key role in India’s 2024 title win after a difficult IPL season with Mumbai Indians where he replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain. He was booed all season by the fans and was coming after facing difficult times.
In 8 matches during the 2024 T20 WC, he picked up 11 wickets at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.64. Pandya began the tournament with 3/27 against Ireland in New York. He followed it with 2/24 against Pakistan and 2/14 against USA. After quiet games in the middle phase, he delivered in the final.
Pandya bowled the last over against South Africa and finished with 3/20 in three overs, taking the big wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller.
4. Ravichandran Ashwin – 11 Wickets (2014 T20 World Cup)
Ravichandran Ashwin starred in the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. In 6 matches, he took 11 wickets at an average of 11.27 and an economy of 5.35 as India finished runners-up.
Ashwin claimed 2/15 against Bangladesh and then produced a standout spell of 4/11 against Australia, removing Aaron Finch, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell.
In the semi-final against South Africa, he took 3/22, dismissing Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers. He ended the final with 1/29 against Sri Lanka.
3. RP Singh – 12 Wickets (2007 T20 WC)
RP Singh played only 10 T20I matches in his short career, claiming 15 wickets at an average of 15 and an economy rate of 6.81. But, he played a crucial role in India’s title win in the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup.
In 7 matches, he picked up 12 wickets at an average of 12.66 and an economy rate of 6.33. Singh took 2/29 against New Zealand and 2/28 against England in the group stage. His best performance came against South Africa, where he claimed 4/13, dismissing Herschelle Gibbs, Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel.
In the final against Pakistan, Singh finished with 3/26, removing Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal and Umar Gul.
2. Jasprit Bumrah – 15 Wickets (2024 T20 WC)
Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Series in the 2024 T20 World Cup. He took 15 wickets in 8 matches at an outstanding average of 8.26 and an economy rate of 4.17.
Bumrah opened with 2/6 against Ireland and followed it with 3/14 against Pakistan in New York. He then claimed 3/7 against Afghanistan and 2/12 in the semi-final against England.
In the final, Bumrah picked up 2/18, dismissing Reeza Hendricks and Marco Jansen. He remains India’s most important bowler heading into the 2026 T20 World Cup.
1. Arshdeep Singh – 17 Wickets (2024 T20 World Cup)
Arshdeep Singh holds the record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in a single T20 World Cup edition. In 2024, he took 17 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 12.64 and an economy of 7.16.
Arshdeep began with 2/35 against Ireland. He then delivered a standout spell of 4/9 against USA. In the Super 8 stage, he took 3/36 against Afghanistan, 2/30 against Bangladesh, and 3/36 against Australia.
In the final, Arshdeep claimed 2/20, dismissing Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock. He is set to feature again in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Most of the teams have revealed their final and provisional squads for the upcoming edition. You can check the squads here.
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