Bhuvneshwar Kumar. (Photo Source: Twitter)
T20 cricket is widely considered as a batter’s game and bowlers have very little margin for error. And in the international arena, which is studded with top-quality batters who can annihilate bowling attacks with their flamboyant stroke play, it has been usually difficult for bowlers to dictate terms.
However, there are certain gun bowlers who have displayed their mastery with the new ball and decimated the opposition. A few of them have dismissed batters in the first over time and time again and set the tone for their side upfront.
Top 5 bowlers with most wickets in the first over in T20Is:
5. Tim Southee – 10
New Zealand have produced many match-winners but there have not been many of the caliber of Tim Southee. The veteran pacer has put up swing bowling masterclasses in the international arena and dismantled top-quality batting line-ups for fun.
Test cricket has been Southee’s happy hunting ground, where he has bagged 359 wickets in 92 matches at an average of 29.33. The 34-year-old has displayed his class in the shortest format too, picking up 134 wickets in 107 matches at an economy of 8.16. His staggering tally of wickets is the most by a bowler in the T20Is.
During his illustrious T20I career spanning over 15 years and running, there have been times when Southee has weaved his magic in the first over itself. The 34-year-old has bagged 10 wickets in the first over to give New Zealand an ideal start with the ball.
4. Angelo Mathews – 11
Angelo Mathews has been a bankable name in the international arena. He has been rock-solid with the bat and shepherded the innings beautifully. Also, the Colombo-born has put up an exhibition of his glorious stroke play to put the opposition under the pump. Moreover, he has been a smart customer with the ball and chipped in with crucial wickets.
Mathews has notched up 5835 runs in 218 matches at an average of 41.67 and bagged 120 wickets at an economy of 4.62. Talking about the shortest format, the 35-year-old has aggregated 1148 runs in 78 matches at a strike rate of 117.74 and picked up 38 wickets at an economy of 6.99.
On the bowling front, Mathews has generally been used as a middle-overs enforcer but there have been times when he has been entrusted to start the proceedings with the ball in the T20 format. He has played the role to perfection, having taken 11 scalps in the first over of the innings in the T20Is.
3. David Willey – 14
David Willey has been a consistent performer for England across formats. He has made the ball talk at the start of the innings and provided his side with early breakthroughs. Also, the 33-year-old is no muck with the bat and played vital knocks slotting in lower down the order.
Wiley has taken 84 wickets in 64 ODIs at an economy of 5.58 and scored 538 runs at a strike rate of 89.36. When it comes to the shortest format, the 33-year-old has picked up 51 scalps in 43 matches at an economy of 8.18 and racked up 226 runs in those outings at a strike rate of 130.63.
Willey has troubled batters with his left-arm angle and given England an ideal start with the new ball as 14 of his wickets in T20 Internationals have come in the first over itself.
2. Bilal Khan – 16
Bilal Khan is one of the finest pacers that Oman cricket has produced. He has featured in 36 ODIs and picked up 76 wickets at a stellar average of 19.21. Coming to the T20 format, the left-arm pacer has taken 71 scalps in 53 games at an economy of 6.41.
Bilal has been Oman’s go-to bowler when in need of wickets and he has delivered the goods on most occasions. The Peshawar-born was quite phenomenal in 2022 and bagged a total of 58 wickets in 31 white-ball appearances in the international arena.
In the T20Is, Bilal has been terrific with the ball be it in the powerplay, middle overs, or death. His prowess with the new ball is evident given the fact that the 34-year-old has bagged 16 wickets in the first over of the innings. The ace pacer would look to carry on the good work for Oman in the matches to come.
1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 18
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a prominent figure in the international arena. He has rattled batters with his swing and wreaked havoc with the ball. On his day, the 33-year-old has ripped through even the best of bowling attacks and stamped his authority on the cricket field.
Bhuvneshwar has represented India on 121 occasions in the 50-over format and bagged 141 wickets at an economy of 5.08. When it comes to the shortest format, the ace pacer has played 87 matches and picked up 90 scalps at an economy of 6.96.
Bhuvneshwar has been a strike force with the ball in the powerplay and has proven his mettle in the international arena time and time again. The Meerut-born has taken 18 wickets in the first over of the match, the most by a bowler in the first over in T20Is.