Top 10 Highest wicket takers in World T20s

The World T20 is the biggest platform for the teams to showcase their dominance over others in the shortest format. Although this format might be heavily loaded in favor of the batsmen, the bowlers have also learned the tricks and have been successful. So far, five editions have taken place after the inaugural World T20 in 2007. It has seen many memorable performances with both bat and ball. And, some have been consistent throughout the years, taking heaps of wickets. Here we take a look at the Top 10 highest wicket taker in the World T20s. 10. Mitchell Johnson – 20 Wickets: Australia’s Mitchell Johnson. (Photo by GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images) The former pace bowling spearhead of Australia is the highest wicket taker for Australia in World T20s. Johnson has been a part of the team in all editions since the inaugural edition in 2007 to 2014 edition before retiring in 2015. He has played 14 matches and has 20 wickets to his credits at an average of 17.55. His best figure is 3/15 which came against Sri Lanka at Bridgetown in 2010. 9. Graeme Swann – 22 Wickets: Graeme Swann. (Photo Source: Getty Images) The orthodox off-spinner did not have any magic delivery to flummox the opposition. However, he was still very successful in this batsman favored format. Swann played from the 2007 edition to the 2014 edition of the World T20. He was also a part of the victorious England team that lifted the trophy in 2010. In all, he played 16 games and took 22 wickets at an average of 16.27. His best bowling figure across all the 4 editions is the 3/24 which came against South Africa at Bridgetown in 2010. 8. Morne Morkel – 24 Wickets: (Photo Source: Getty Images) Morne Morkel has been a crucial part of the South Africa team for many years. The tall fast bowler has played in all the World T20’s which have taken place so far, playing 17 games and taking 24 wickets in them at a superb average of 18.83. His 4/17 in 2007 against New Zealand is his best figures in the mega event as well as of his T20 career. 7. Dale Steyn – 29 Wickets: Dale Steyn. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Dale Steyn is South Africa’s pace spearhead across all formats. Steyn, in spite of making his T20 debut in 2007, wasn’t a part of the inaugural 2007 edition which his country hosted. He first appeared in the 2009 World T20 and has played 21 matches till the 2014 edition. He has 29 wickets to his credit at an average of 17.62. His best figure in World T20 is 4/17 which he took against New Zealand at Chittagong in the last edition. 6. Stuart Broad – 30 Wickets: England’s cricketer Stuart Broad. (Photo by SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images) Stuart Broad first appeared as a 21-year-old rookie in the 2007 T20 World Cup and since then has grown on to become the leader of the pack in the 2014 edition. The now bowling spearhead of England has seen his career develop and grow all these years. In all, he has played 26 games and has taken 30 wickets in them at an average of 22.36. His most memorable performance in the World T20 came in the 2009 edition where took figures of 3/17 against Pakistan at the Oval. 5. Umar Gul – 35 Wickets: Umar Gul of Pakistan. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-IDI/IDI via Getty Images) Umar Gul, Pakistan’s most trusted fast bowler has been an excellent T20 player. Gul has represented Pakistan in all the editions of this event so far. He played 24 matches and has taken 35 wickets at a brilliant average of 17.25. Gul, with 13 wickets was the highest wicket taker for Pakistan in the jubilant 2009 campaign where they had emerged as champions. His best bowling figure is a wonderful 5/6 which came against New Zealand at The Oval in the same year. 4. Shahid Afridi – 35 Wickets: Shahid Afridi. (Photo Source: AFP) Pakistan’s most successful all-rounder is also the one of their leading bowlers in the shortest format. Afridi has been a part of the Pakistan team since the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup and has played 30 matches in all, taking 35 wickets at an average of 22.51. Afridi’s best bowling figures are 4/11 which came against the associate nation Netherlands at Lord’s in the 2012 edition. He was also the fifth highest wicket-taker that year. 3. Ajantha Mendis – 35 Wickets: Sri Lankan bowler Ajantha Mendis. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) Ajantha Mendis may have faded away from the Test arena but is still an effective bowler in the T20 format. Mendis has played 24 matches and has got 35 wickets at a highly impressive average of 15.02. He first featured in the 2009 edition in England. His best bowling figures in World T20s is the outstanding 6/8 he took against Zimbabwe in Hambantota in 2012. 2. Saeed Ajmal – 36 Wickets: Pakistani bowler Saeed Ajmal. (Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP/Getty Images) The ‘Magician’ Saeed Ajmal is the second highest wicket-taker in this T20 mega event. Ajmal made his T20 World Cup debut in the 2009 edition, which his team eventually won. This was also his most memorable World T20 in which he claimed 12 scalps and was the second highest wicket-taker for his team. His figure of 4/19 against Ireland at the Oval in 2009 is his best match haul. In all, Ajmal has taken 26 wickets so far in 23 matches. 1. Lasith Malinga – 38 Wickets: Lasith Malinga. (© Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images) Lasith Malinga is the leading wicket-taker in World T20 history. Malinga is a vital component for any team he plays for in this format. He has featured in all the World T20 editions which have taken place since the 2007 edition. The T20 specialist has played 31 matches overall and has claimed 38 wickets. His best bowling performance in World T20s came against England in the 2012 edition at Pallekele when he took a match-winning 5/31. (All stats updated till 4th March 2016) Also read: Top 10 Most economical bowling spells in T20Is