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. In the 2026 edition, India won their third title and became the first team to win back-to-back titles and win the T20 World Cup title while hosting it.
Across editions, Indian bowlers have produced match-winning spells.
Here is a look at the 5 Indian bowlers with the most wickets in a single T20 World Cup edition.
7. Hardik Pandya – 11 & 9 Wickets (2024 & 2026 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.
At the 2026 T20 World Cup, the allrounder took 9 wickets in 9 matches at an economy of 8.81.
6. Axar Patel – 11 Wickets (2026 T20 World Cup)
India’s vice captain Axar Patel finished the tournament with 11 wickets in 7 innings at a strike rate of 13.63 and an economy of 8.20. He was India’s most economical bowler after Bumrah (6.21).
Axar’s best bowling figures of the tournament came at the biggest stage in the final where he took 3 wickets for 27 runs. He dismissed New Zealand’s main batter Finn Allen, Glenn Philips and Daryl Mitchell.
5. 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.
4. 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.
3. Varun Chakaravarthy – 14 Wickets (2026 T20 WC)
Varun Chakaravarthy also finished the 2026 T20 World Cup with 14 wickets, the same as Jasprit Bumrah. He featured in all the 9 matches that India played and did not go wicketless even once.
Although a bit expensive with 9.25 economy, he finished as India’s highest wicket-taking spin bowler in a T20 World Cup edition overtaking R Ashwin’s tally in 11 wickets in the 2014 edition. His best figures were 3/7 against Namibia and 3/14 against Netherlands.
2. Jasprit Bumrah – 15 & 14 Wickets (2024 & 2026 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.
In the 2026 edition, Bumrah finished as the highest wicket taker of the tournament. He took 14 wickets in 8 innings at a strike rate of 12.00 and at an economy of just 6.21. He averaged 12.42 during the tournament where he went wicketless just once, taking 0/21 against Zimbabwe. His best figures came in the final against New Zealand. He took 4/15 and took his tally past Lasith Malinga (38) to become the highest wicket taking fast bowler in T20 World Cups with 40 wickets.
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.
In the 2026 T20 World Cup, Arshdeep Singh took 9 wickets in 8 matches at an economy of 8.46 and strike rate of 20.00.
Many of these players became two-time T20 World Cup champions with the 2026 title win.
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