Best Bowling Figures in T20 World Cup History

The T20 World Cup has produced many great bowling spells, but only a few bowlers have taken five or more wickets while giving away very few runs.

Ajantha Mendis holds the record for the best bowling figures in Men's T20 World Cup history. The Sri Lankan spinner took 6 wickets for only 8 runs against Zimbabwe in 2012. No bowler has bettered that performance through the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Rangana Herath is second with 5/3 against New Zealand in 2014, while Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul is third with his famous 5/6 against New Zealand in 2009. Fazalhaq Farooqi, Sam Curran and Akeal Hosein are also high on the all-time list.

Best Bowling Figures in T20 World Cup History

Ajantha Mendis remains the only bowler to take six wickets in a Men's T20 World Cup innings.

1. Ajantha Mendis – 6/8 vs Zimbabwe, 2012

Ajantha Mendis' 6/8 against Zimbabwe is the best bowling performance in T20 World Cup history.

The match was played in Hambantota during the 2012 tournament. Sri Lanka had posted a strong total, and Zimbabwe needed a good chase to stay in the game.

Mendis completely changed the match with his mystery spin.

Zimbabwe's batters struggled to read his variations, and wickets kept falling whenever they tried to attack. Mendis finished with 6 wickets for only 8 runs from four overs.

Zimbabwe were bowled out for 100, and Sri Lanka won comfortably.

Why Ajantha Mendis Was So Difficult to Read

Mendis was not a traditional off-spinner.

He used several different deliveries, including the carrom ball, off-spin and quicker balls.

Batters often found it difficult to know which way the ball would move after pitching.

In T20 cricket, where batters have very little time to settle, that uncertainty becomes even more dangerous.

His 6/8 remains one of the greatest bowling spells ever seen in a major T20 tournament.

Mendis Is Still the Only Six-Wicket Taker

Many bowlers have taken five wickets in a T20 World Cup match.

Mendis is still the only bowler to take six wickets in one Men's T20 World Cup innings.

The record was set in 2012 and remained untouched through the end of the 2026 tournament.

That makes it one of the longest-standing bowling records in T20 World Cup history.

2. Rangana Herath – 5/3 vs New Zealand, 2014

Rangana Herath produced one of the most economical five-wicket hauls in T20 World Cup history when he took 5/3 against New Zealand in 2014.

Sri Lanka needed to win the match to stay alive in the tournament.

They had scored only 119, so New Zealand appeared to have a very good chance of chasing the target.

Herath then produced an incredible spell.

He gave away only three runs and took five wickets.

New Zealand's batting collapsed against his left-arm spin, and Sri Lanka defended the small total.

Herath Turned a Small Total Into a Winning Score

Defending 119 in a T20 World Cup match is very difficult.

One good batting partnership can almost finish the chase.

Herath did not allow New Zealand to build that partnership.

He attacked the stumps, used changes of pace and made scoring extremely difficult.

His 5/3 from 3.3 overs helped Sri Lanka bowl New Zealand out for only 60.

Sri Lanka later went on to win the 2014 T20 World Cup.

Why Herath's 5/3 Is So Special

Five wickets are impressive in any T20 match.

Taking five while conceding only three runs is extraordinary.

Herath's figures remain the fewest runs conceded by a bowler in a five-wicket haul at the Men's T20 World Cup.

His performance also came in an important match, making it even more memorable.

3. Umar Gul – 5/6 vs New Zealand, 2009

Umar Gul's 5/6 against New Zealand in 2009 was one of the first great fast-bowling spells in T20 World Cup history.

New Zealand were 72/4 when Gul entered the attack at The Oval.

The match then changed very quickly.

Gul used pace, full deliveries and reverse swing to attack the stumps.

He removed Scott Styris and Peter McGlashan in quick succession and then returned to take more wickets later in the innings.

New Zealand were eventually bowled out for only 99.

Umar Gul Finished With 5/6 From Three Overs

Gul bowled only three overs but took five wickets.

His final figures were 3 overs, 6 runs, 5 wickets.

At that time, it was one of the best bowling performances ever recorded in T20 international cricket.

Pakistan chased the target comfortably and later went on to win the 2009 T20 World Cup.

Gul was a major part of that title-winning campaign.

Why Umar Gul Was So Good in T20 Cricket

Gul became famous for his yorkers.

He could bowl full and straight at high pace, especially in the middle and death overs.

He was also able to reverse the ball, which made him difficult to score against once the ball became older.

His 5/6 against New Zealand remains Pakistan's best bowling performance in Men's T20 World Cup history.

4. Fazalhaq Farooqi – 5/9 vs Uganda, 2024

Fazalhaq Farooqi produced the best bowling figures of the 2024 T20 World Cup when he took 5/9 against Uganda.

Afghanistan had posted a big total, but Farooqi made sure Uganda never got close.

He attacked with the new ball and picked up early wickets, putting Uganda under pressure immediately.

He later returned to remove more batters and completed his five-wicket haul.

Farooqi finished with 5/9 and was named Player of the Match.

Farooqi's New-Ball Swing Was the Key

Farooqi is a left-arm fast bowler who can move the new ball.

Against Uganda, he used that swing very well.

He kept the ball close to the stumps and forced batters to play.

Once Afghanistan had taken early wickets, Uganda never recovered.

Farooqi's spell became the fourth-best bowling figures in Men's T20 World Cup history.

Farooqi Also Had a Great 2024 Tournament

The 5/9 was not his only good performance.

Farooqi finished the 2024 T20 World Cup with 17 wickets, sharing the record for most wickets in that edition with India's Arshdeep Singh.

He played a major role in Afghanistan reaching their first Men's T20 World Cup semi-final.

His ability to take wickets with the new ball became one of Afghanistan's biggest strengths.

5. Sam Curran – 5/10 vs Afghanistan, 2022

Sam Curran took 5/10 against Afghanistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup, the best figures by an England bowler in the tournament.

England faced Afghanistan in Perth, where the pitch offered extra bounce.

Curran used slower balls and changes of pace very well.

He removed Afghanistan's lower order quickly and finished with five wickets from 3.4 overs.

Afghanistan were bowled out for 112.

Sam Curran Became England's First Men's T20I Five-Wicket Taker

Curran's 5/10 was also the first five-wicket haul by an England bowler in men's T20 international cricket.

That made the performance important beyond the World Cup itself.

Curran continued bowling well through the tournament.

He finished with 13 wickets and was later named Player of the Tournament after helping England win the 2022 title.

Curran Was Excellent at the Death

Curran was not the fastest bowler in the England attack.

His strength came from variation.

He used slower balls, cutters and changes in length to make clean hitting difficult.

Those skills worked especially well at the death when batters were trying to attack every delivery.

His 5/10 against Afghanistan was the best example of that control.

6. Akeal Hosein – 5/11 vs Uganda, 2024

Akeal Hosein took 5/11 against Uganda during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The West Indies spinner attacked from the first over and quickly put Uganda under pressure.

His accuracy made it difficult for the batters to score, while the turn created wicket-taking chances.

Hosein finished with five wickets for only 11 runs.

It was one of the best bowling spells of the entire 2024 tournament.

Hosein Produced the Best Figures by a West Indies Bowler

His 5/11 became the best bowling figures by a West Indies bowler in Men's T20 World Cup history at the time.

Hosein is normally known for controlling the powerplay and middle overs.

Against Uganda, he did more than stop runs.

He kept taking wickets.

That combination made the spell one of the strongest performances in West Indies T20 World Cup history.

7. Ahsan Malik – 5/19 vs South Africa, 2014

Netherlands fast bowler Ahsan Malik took 5/19 against South Africa in the 2014 T20 World Cup.

South Africa had a strong batting line-up, so the performance was a major achievement.

Malik used good lines and changes of pace to keep taking wickets.

He finished with five wickets from four overs.

Although the Netherlands did not win the match, his individual performance remains among the best bowling figures ever recorded at the tournament.

Why Ahsan Malik's Five-Wicket Haul Stands Out

Associate teams often face much stronger batting line-ups at global tournaments.

Taking five wickets against South Africa therefore made Malik's spell especially impressive.

It showed that a bowler from a smaller cricket nation could still produce a world-class performance on the biggest stage.

His 5/19 remains one of the leading bowling figures in Men's T20 World Cup history.

8. Adam Zampa – 5/19 vs Bangladesh, 2021

Adam Zampa took 5/19 against Bangladesh during Australia's title-winning 2021 T20 World Cup campaign.

Bangladesh were already under pressure when Zampa entered the attack.

The leg-spinner kept attacking the stumps and forced batters into mistakes.

He took important middle-order and lower-order wickets and finished with five wickets for 19 runs.

Bangladesh were bowled out for only 73.

Australia chased the target in just 6.3 overs.

Zampa Was Australia's Best Bowler in 2021

Zampa finished the tournament with 13 wickets at an average of 12.07.

His economy rate was also excellent.

He regularly controlled the middle overs and gave Australia important breakthroughs.

The 5/19 against Bangladesh was his best spell of the tournament and helped improve Australia's net run rate at an important stage.

Australia later went on to win their first Men's T20 World Cup title.

9. Romario Shepherd – 5/20 vs Scotland, 2026

Romario Shepherd joined the list of Men's T20 World Cup five-wicket bowlers when he took 5/20 against Scotland in 2026.

West Indies were defending their total when Scotland began building a useful partnership.

Shepherd then changed the game with a brilliant late spell.

He took four wickets in one over, including a hat-trick, and destroyed Scotland's lower order.

The collapse helped West Indies win by 35 runs.

Shepherd Took a Hat-Trick During His Five-For

Scotland were 133/5 before Shepherd's big over.

By the end of the over, they were 133/9.

That shows how quickly the match changed.

Shepherd's combination of slower balls and attacking pace made him difficult to hit.

He finished with 5/20 and became one of the standout bowlers of the opening stage of the 2026 tournament.

Did the 2026 T20 World Cup Break the Best Bowling Record?

No.

Ajantha Mendis' 6/8 remained the best bowling figures in Men's T20 World Cup history after the 2026 tournament.

The 2026 edition produced several excellent bowling spells, including Romario Shepherd's 5/20 and Jasprit Bumrah's 4/15 in the final against New Zealand.

However, no bowler reached Mendis' six-wicket record or bettered Herath's 5/3.

The top of the all-time list therefore stayed unchanged.

Best Bowling Figures in T20 World Cup 2026

Romario Shepherd's 5/20 against Scotland was one of the standout five-wicket performances of the 2026 tournament.

Jasprit Bumrah also produced an important 4/15 against New Zealand in the final, helping India win the title.

Bumrah finished the tournament with 14 wickets, sharing the top wicket-taking position with Varun Chakaravarthy.

The tournament again showed that bowlers can still have a major impact even in a period of very aggressive T20 batting.

Best Bowling Figures by a Spinner in T20 World Cup

Ajantha Mendis holds the best figures by a spinner with 6/8.

Rangana Herath is next with 5/3.

Akeal Hosein and Adam Zampa are also among the leading spin performances.

Spin has played a major role in many T20 World Cups, especially on slower pitches.

Best Bowling Figures by a Fast Bowler in T20 World Cup

Umar Gul's 5/6 against New Zealand in 2009 is one of the best fast-bowling figures in Men's T20 World Cup history.

Fazalhaq Farooqi is close behind with 5/9, followed by Sam Curran with 5/10.

Fast bowlers have produced great T20 World Cup spells using very different methods, including swing, yorkers, reverse swing and slower balls.

Best Bowling Figures by Pakistan in T20 World Cup

Umar Gul holds Pakistan's best Men's T20 World Cup bowling figures with 5/6 against New Zealand in 2009.

His spell helped Pakistan bowl New Zealand out for 99.

Pakistan then completed an easy chase.

Gul later played a major role as Pakistan won the tournament.

His 5/6 remains one of the strongest fast-bowling performances in T20 World Cup history.

Best Bowling Figures by Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka own the top two bowling performances in Men's T20 World Cup history.

Ajantha Mendis is first with 6/8, while Rangana Herath is second with 5/3.

Both were spinners, but their styles were very different.

Mendis relied on mystery and variations, while Herath used control, flight and traditional left-arm spin.

Their records show how important spin bowling has been to Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup history.

Best Bowling Figures by England in T20 World Cup

Sam Curran holds England's best Men's T20 World Cup bowling figures with 5/10 against Afghanistan in 2022.

The spell came during a tournament England eventually won.

Curran also took 3/12 in the final against Pakistan and finished as Player of the Tournament.

His performances were especially important at the death, where he regularly stopped batters from scoring quickly.

Best Bowling Figures by Afghanistan in T20 World Cup

Fazalhaq Farooqi leads Afghanistan with 5/9 against Uganda in 2024.

He used the new ball brilliantly throughout that tournament.

Farooqi finished with 17 wickets and helped Afghanistan reach their first T20 World Cup semi-final.

His spell against Uganda remains Afghanistan's best bowling performance at the competition.

Best Bowling Figures by Australia in T20 World Cup

Adam Zampa holds one of Australia's best Men's T20 World Cup figures with 5/19 against Bangladesh in 2021.

His leg-spin played a major role in Australia's title-winning campaign.

Zampa finished as one of the leading wicket-takers and was especially effective in the middle overs.

His 5/19 remains one of the best bowling spells by an Australian in T20 World Cup history.

Best Bowling Figures vs Most Wickets

Best bowling figures and most wickets are different records.

Best bowling figures look at one match.

For example, Ajantha Mendis' 6/8 is the best single-match bowling performance.

The most-wickets record looks at an entire tournament or career.

A bowler can therefore finish a World Cup with many wickets without ever taking five in one game.

Both records are useful, but they measure different types of performance.

Why Five-Wicket Hauls Are Rare in T20 Cricket

A bowler can bowl only four overs in a normal T20 match.

That is only 24 legal deliveries.

Taking five wickets from 24 balls is therefore very difficult.

The bowler needs to take a wicket almost every few deliveries while also avoiding expensive overs.

This is why five-wicket hauls are much less common in T20 cricket than in Tests or ODIs.

Taking six wickets, as Mendis did, is even more unusual.

FAQs

Who has the best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history?

Ajantha Mendis holds the record with 6/8 for Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe in the 2012 Men's T20 World Cup.

Who is second for the best bowling figures in T20 World Cup?

Rangana Herath is second with 5/3 against New Zealand in 2014.

What are Umar Gul's best T20 World Cup bowling figures?

Umar Gul took 5/6 against New Zealand in 2009, the best T20 World Cup figures by a Pakistan bowler.

Who took 5/9 in the T20 World Cup?

Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi took 5/9 against Uganda in 2024.

What are Sam Curran's best T20 World Cup figures?

Sam Curran took 5/10 against Afghanistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Has anyone taken six wickets in a T20 World Cup match?

Yes. Ajantha Mendis took 6/8 against Zimbabwe in 2012 and remains the only bowler with a six-wicket haul in the Men's T20 World Cup.

What were the best bowling figures in the 2024 T20 World Cup?

Fazalhaq Farooqi recorded 5/9 against Uganda, the best figures of the 2024 tournament.

What were the best bowling figures in the 2026 T20 World Cup?

Romario Shepherd produced a five-wicket spell of 5/20 against Scotland, while several other bowlers produced strong four-wicket performances.

Who has the best bowling figures for Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup?

Ajantha Mendis leads with 6/8, followed by Rangana Herath's 5/3.

Is Ajantha Mendis' 6/8 still the T20 World Cup record?

Yes. Mendis' 6/8 remained the best bowling figures in Men's T20 World Cup history through the end of the 2026 tournament.

Sources

• ICC – Best Bowling Figures in Men's T20 World Cup History
  View ICC T20 World Cup bowling records