Most Wickets in Asia Cup: from the beginning to Present 2025

Published - August 26, 2025 10:55:26
Updated - August 26, 2025 10:55:26

By Anjali Sharma

The Asia Cup has always been a special tournament in world cricket. Since the very first edition in 1984, it has given fans some of the best matches between Asian cricketing nations. Over the years, many bowlers have left their mark with outstanding performances, becoming the leading wicket-takers in both ODI and T20 formats of the Asia Cup.

When we talk about bowling in this tournament, a few names stand out. Legendary players like Muttiah Muralitharan, Lasith Malinga, and Ajantha Mendis have dominated the ODI format, while in T20 cricket, bowlers like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amjad Javed, and Rashid Khan have delivered match-winning spells. These players have made their place in history by picking up the most wickets in the Asia Cup.

Most wickets in Men’s T20 Asia Cup

Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4W	5W
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (IND)	2016-2022	6	6	138	23.0	3	123	13	5/4	9.46	5.34	10.61	1	1
Amjad Javed (UAE)	2016	7	7	138	23.0	–	169	12	3/25	14.08	7.34	11.50	–	–
Mohammad Naveed (UAE)	2016	7	7	166	27.4	2	145	11	3/14	13.18	5.24	15.09	–	–
Rashid Khan (AFG)	2016-2022	8	8	186	31.0	–	202	11	3/22	18.36	6.51	16.90	–	–
Hardik Pandya (IND)	2016-2022	8	8	177	29.3	1	207	11	3/8	18.81	7.01	16.09	–	–
Al-Amin Hossain (BAN)	2016	5	5	101	16.5	–	134	11	3/25	12.18	7.96	9.18	–	–
Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)	2022	6	6	138	23.0	–	170	9	3/21	18.88	7.39	15.33	–	–
Shadab Khan (PAK)	2022	5	5	112	18.4	–	113	8	4/8	14.12	6.05	14.00	1	–
Mohammad Nawaz (PAK)	2016-2022	8	8	148	24.4	–	174	8	3/5	21.75	7.05	18.50	–	–
Haris Rauf (PAK)	2022	6	6	120	20.0	–	153	8	3/29	19.12	7.65	15.00	–	–

Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the T20 Asia Cup charts with 13 wickets, including a stunning five-wicket haul. He is followed by Amjad Javed and Mohammad Naveed from the UAE, both of whom impressed in the 2016 edition. Rashid Khan, Hardik Pandya, and Shadab Khan also feature with consistent wicket-taking spells, showing how important bowlers have been in the shorter format of the Asia Cup.

Most Wickets in the Asia Cup

Player	Wkts	Inns	Avg	BBI	5W
Muttiah Muralitharan (SL)	30	24	28.83	5/31	1
Lasith Malinga (SL)	29	14	20.55	5/34	3
Ajantha Mendis (SL)	26	8	10.42	6/13	2
Saeed Ajmal (PAK)	25	12	19.40	3/26	0
Ravindra Jadeja (IND)	25	18	26.28	4/29	0
Chaminda Vaas (SL)	23	19	27.78	3/30	0
Irfan Pathan (IND)	22	12	27.50	4/32	0
Sanath Jayasuriya (SL)	22	21	30.31	4/49	0
Abdur Razzak (PAK)	22	18	36.18	3/17	0
Shakib Al Hasan (BAN)	22	18	36.95	4/42	0

In the ODI format, Muttiah Muralitharan sits at the top with 30 wickets, making him the most successful bowler in Asia Cup history. Lasith Malinga follows closely with 29 wickets and holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls. Ajantha Mendis, despite playing only a handful of games, made a massive impact with 26 wickets at a record-breaking average. Other names like Saeed Ajmal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Chaminda Vaas also feature among the top wicket-takers, showing the balance of spin and pace in the tournament.

The Asia Cup has been a stage where bowlers shine under pressure, whether in the ODI or T20 format. From spin legends to fiery pacers, the bowlers who top these lists have played a key role in shaping Asia Cup history and continue to inspire future cricketers.