Spinners usually bowl a lot in the middle overs (7-16) in T20Is. And thus, they dominate the wicket chart in this phase. Here’s a look at the top bowlers.
Most Wickets in Middle Overs in T20Is
| Player | Team | Innings | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ish Sodhi | New Zealand | 124 | 130 | 23.50 | 7.72 |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 106 | 126 | 14.63 | 5.66 |
| Adil Rashid | England | 124 | 123 | 24.37 | 7.34 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 87 | 111 | 17.18 | 6.81 |
| Adam Zampa | Australia | 102 | 106 | 22.56 | 7.18 |
| Shadab Khan | Pakistan | 103 | 105 | 25.39 | 7.39 |
| Mitchell Santner | New Zealand | 117 | 97 | 23.40 | 7.01 |
| Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 97 | 84 | 26.51 | 6.59 |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | South Africa | 69 | 84 | 19.90 | 7.18 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | India | 46 | 78 | 13.01 | 6.51 |
Key Insights on Dominant Bowlers in T20I Middle Overs (Overs 7-16)
Premier Spinners and Overall Wicket-Takers in the Middle Overs
Six bowlers have taken 100-plus wickets in the middle overs in T20Is, and all of them are leg spinners.
Adil Rashid and Rashid Khan are the two bowlers who have bowled 800 or more dot balls in the middle over in T20Is.
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga took 45 wickets in the middle overs in 26 innings in 2024, the most by a bowler in a year in T20Is.
Elite Economy and Average Records (Minimum 50 Innings)
Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane is the only bowler to average below 13 between the seventh and 16th overs in T20Is (minimum 50 innings).
Shem Ngoche (Kenya), Rashid Khan, Dipendra Singh Airee (Nepal), Ehsan Khan (Hong Kong), Imad Wasim (Pakistan), and Sandeep Lamichhane have economy rates below six in the middle overs phase in T20Is (minimum 50 innings).
Best Bowling Performances and Opponent Dominance
Hong Kong’s Nasrulla Rana has delivered the best bowling figures in the middle overs in a T20I innings. He claimed six wickets for 12 runs against Papua New Guinea in the 2023 T20I match.
Rana’s 6 for 12, however, is the best bowling figure by a bowler in a losing cause in T20I cricket.
Nigeria’s Ridwan Abdulkareem (6/22 vs Botswana) and Spain’s Yasir Ali (6/28 vs Croatia) are the other bowlers to pick up six wickets in this phase in a T20I innings.
Adil Rashid (vs West Indies) and Rashid Khan (vs Ireland) have taken 30 or more wickets in the middle overs against an opponent team in T20Is.
Fast Bowlers’ Contribution
India’s Hardik Pandya is the only fast bowler to pick up 60 or more wickets in the middle overs in T20Is.
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