Best Bowling Figures In T20Is Cricket History (2025 Ranked!)

T20 cricket is known for its explosive batting, but the bowlers with the best figures often deliver the most memorable moments: a perfect yorker, a cleverly disguised slower ball, or a sharp spin that troubles even top batsmen.

In a format where batsmen typically hog all the attention, these bowlers have emerged as game-changers in T20 history. From Afghanistan’s talented spinners to India’s emerging pace bowlers, they have won matches with their accuracy and tactical ability, leaving fans and analysts astonished.

These performances aren’t just numbers; they showcase moments of skill, focus and smart strategy, and showcase the thrilling pace that makes cricket’s shortest format so special.

Top 10 Bowling Figures in T20 History

These bowlers have performed exceptionally well in T20 International cricket. Let’s take a closer look at their most impressive achievements:

1. Sayazrul Idrus (Malaysia) – 7/8 vs China

Syazrul Idrus starred with the ball, taking a superb 7/8 against China in Kuala Lumpur. His accurate bowling troubled the Chinese batsmen as he targeted the right areas. This impressive performance led to a resounding victory for Malaysia.

Match Result: Malaysia won by 10 wickets.

2. H Bhardwaj (Singapore) – 7/6 vs Mongolia

H Bharadwaj impressed everyone with a brilliant spell of 7/6 against Mongolia in Bangi. His control and accuracy devastated the Mongolian batting order, making it difficult for them to score runs. His performance was crucial in Singapore’s impressive victory.

Match Result: Singapore won by 9 wickets.

3. P Aho (Nigeria) – 6/15 vs Sierra Leone

P. Aho showcased his bowling prowess with figures of 6/15 against Sierra Leone in Lagos. His ability to swing the ball and maintain perfect line kept the Sierra Leone batsmen under constant pressure. Aho’s spell played a key role in Nigeria’s impressive victory.

Match Result: Nigeria won by 42 runs.

4.  DL Chahar (India) – 6/7 vs Bangladesh 

Deepak Chahar’s impressive bowling figures of 6/7 against Bangladesh in Nagpur showcased his skill and accuracy. His ability to move the ball both ways troubled the Bangladeshi batsmen, and played a key role in India’s big win.

Match Result: India won by 30 runs.

5. DM Nakarani (Uganda) – 6/7 vs Lesotho

DM Nakarani’s figures of 6/7 against Lesotho in Kigali demonstrated his importance in Uganda’s bowling lineup. His accurate and clever bowling disrupted Lesotho’s batting order, leading to Uganda’s victory.

Match Result: Uganda won by 10 wickets.

6. BAW Mendis (Sri Lanka) – 6/8 vs Zimbabwe

BAW Mendis turned the match in Sri Lanka’s favor with a brilliant spell of 6/8 against Zimbabwe in Hambantota. His superb spin bowling troubled the Zimbabwean batsmen and played a key role in Sri Lanka’s impressive victory.

Match Result: Sri Lanka won by 82 runs.

7. MA Beg (Malawi) – 6/9 vs Rwanda

BA Baig impressed with figures of 6/9 against Rwanda in Benoni. His consistent line and length made it difficult for the Rwandan batsmen to score runs, leading to Malawi’s victory.

Match Result: Malawi won by 5 wickets.

8. JJ Smit (Namibia) – 6/10 vs Uganda

JJ Smit bowled a superb 6/10 against Uganda in Windhoek, demonstrating his skill and importance in Namibia’s victory. His accurate and economical spell led to a collapse of Uganda’s batting, paving the way for a convincing victory.

Match Result: Namibia won by 36 runs.

9. Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh) – 6/10 vs USA

Mustafizur Rahman impressed with figures of 6/10 against the USA at Prairie View, re-establishing his role as Bangladesh’s top bowler. His excellent variations and control kept the US batsmen under pressure, leading Bangladesh to a resounding victory.

Match Result: Bangladesh won by 8 wickets.

 10. Bohara (Nepal) – 6/11 vs Maldives 

Bohara’s brilliant spell of 6/11 against the Maldives in Hangzhou showcased his match-winning abilities for Nepal. His disciplined line and length, along with his smart use of the conditions, played a key role in Nepal’s impressive performance.

Match Result: Nepal won by 72 runs.

Read More: Top 7 Best Swing Bowlers in Cricket History (2025 Ranked)

Conclusion

The figures shown here are impressive in any format of cricket, but achieving them in T20 Internationals makes them even more special. With perfect batting conditions, fielding restrictions, short boundaries, and a powerful bat designed for hitting fours and sixes, these performances stand out. Taking six wickets in just four overs or less is impressive in itself, but combining it with excellent economy rates makes these achievements truly special. It’s also clear that each of these bowlers played a crucial role in their team’s victory.

As expected, the bowlers mentioned often received Player of the Match awards, reflecting the impact of their performances. Whether they scored runs or took catches, the primary reason for praise was their bowling. While T20 cricket is dominated by batsmen, these outstanding bowling performances prove that bowlers play a crucial role in influencing the outcome of the shortest format of the game.

FAQs: Questions & Answers

Q1. Who holds the record for the best bowling figures in a T20 World Cup match?

Currently, the best bowling figures in a T20 World Cup match are 6/7 by Afghanistan’s Fazlulhaq Farooqui against Uganda in 2024.

Q2. What is the significance of taking 5 wickets in a T20 match?

Taking 5 wickets in a T20 match is a rare and remarkable achievement due to the short format and limited overs. It shows the bowler’s ability to dominate the batting side and play a significant role in deciding the match.

Q3. Who was the first bowler to take 6 wickets in a T20I match?

The first bowler to take 6 wickets in a T20I match was Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis. He recorded figures of 6/8 against Zimbabwe in 2012.