The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 is set to begin on June 1 and will come to an end on June 30 in the USA and the West Indies. The inaugural clash will have the co-hosts USA locking horns with Canada. This will be the first time that a total of 20 teams will fight for the coveted title. With less than a week left for the tournament, the participating nations have started reaching the USA with their best T20 squad.
During the month-long tournament, bowlers will be expected to deliver their best and pick as many wickets as they can. The pitches in America and the Caribbean have slow and low surfaces assisting spinners and pacers alike. Needless to say, the upcoming contest is going to be an even contest between the bat and the ball in the tournament.
Top contenders to finish with most wickets at T20 World Cup 2024
In this article, we will look at five names from the bowling department who are expected to be the top contenders with the most wickets at the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
Jasprit Bumrah
Indian bowling wizard Jasprit Bumrah is one of the biggest assets in India’s current T20I squad traveling to the USA and the Caribbean. In his 61 T20I innings, Bumrah has picked 74 wickets with an average of 19.66 and a strike rate of 17.9. Known for his lethal yorkers, Bumrah has an economy of 7.1, which is the best among all pacers. The Indian pacer has come off a great form in the IPL 2024, where he picked 20 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of 6.48. The 30-year-old will be expected to continue his momentum and pick one of the highest number of wickets.
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Jofra Archer
English bowler Jofra Archer recently returned to international cricket after 14 long months of absence. In his return campaign against Pakistan, Archer finished with 2 for 28 in four overs. Archer is an established first-team player, and despite his low figures in T20s over the last few years, his ability to take wickets in crucial times makes him a match-winner. The 29-year-old has played 16 T20Is and picked 20 wickets with an average of 23.60 and an economy of 7.61. With Archer returning to the international scene after such a long duration, expectations will be high for him to pick crucial wickets for the reigning champions.
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Shaheen Shah Afridi
Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi will be another name contending for the highest number of wickets throughout the season. The young spinning sensation, Afridi has picked 88 wickets in just 64 appearances with an excellent strike rate of 15.8. All the right-handers will be cautious of him as 71 of his 88 international wickets have come against them. Not only this, but Afridi knows how to tackle the new ball, given he has picked 15 wickets in the very first over. In the previous edition of the T20 World Cup, Afridi scalped 11 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 6.15.
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Matheesha Pathirana
One of the newest sensations in the pace department, Pathirana’s bowling action resembles Sri Lanka legend Lasith Malinga. Pathirana has a knack of picking wickets which has made him a nightmare for all the batters across the world. In his 12 ODIs and six T20Is, Pathirana has picked a total of 28 wickets. In the IPL 2024, the young bowling star could play only six games and managed to get 13 scalps at an average of 13.00.
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Adam Zampa
The Australian spinner played a pivotal role in his side’s victorious campaign in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. In his 79 T20I innings, the 32-year-old has picked 92 wickets with an economy of 7.28 and an average of 22.63. Zampa’s proficiency as Australia’s go-to spinner makes him a valuable asset for the team’s success in the shortest format. Additionally, with a remarkable record in T20I cricket, Zampa will be expected to scalp maximum wickets in the upcoming tournament.
