Top five bowlers with most wickets in opening over of T20I matches

T20I cricket has reached the height of its popularity and is now seeing various leagues crop. While the format has been batter dominated many bowlers have created their mark with the ball. 

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The likes of Sunil Narine, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, and Jasprit Bumrah have created their legacy. One of the rare feats to achieve is to pick a wicket in the first over of a T20I match to pressure the opposition.     

In this article, we take a closer look at the top five bowlers who have picked wickets in the first over of the T20i Contest 

5- Shaheen Afridi – Pakistan – 13 Wickets 

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Pakistan’s latest T20I skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi is noted for his pace and swing. The 23-year-old shot to fame after his performance versus India during the 2021 T20 World Cup. Out of the 73 T20I wickets he has picked, 13 wickets have come in the first over of the game. During the recent T20I series versus the Kiwis, Shaheen Afridi was at his best with the new ball once again. 

4- David Willey – England -15 Wickets 

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England’s former left-arm pacer David Willey was known for his ability to swing the ball. The 33-year-old was one of the biggest weapons for England during his heydays with the new ball. The former pacer from Yorkshire has picked 15 wickets during the first of a T20I game. 

3- Tim Southee – New Zealand – 15 Wickets 

The Kiwi veteran is considered one of the best bowlers of this generation. At the age of 35, the mastery of Tim Southee hasn’t died down. The tall pacer can dismiss the best batters in the business and more often than not does it in the first over of a T20I contest. 

2- Bhuvneshwar Kumar – India – 18 Wickets

India’s forgotten pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a huge force to be reckoned with in the shortest format. The 34-year-old was known to swing the ball at decent speeds and get the best batters in the business. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was known for his duels with various opening batters and getting them out early. The right-arm pacer has picked 18 wickets in the first over of a T20I contest. 

1-Bilal Khan – Oman – 20 Wickets

Little-known Oman fast bowler Bilal Khan has picked up 92 wickets in his career. 20 of those have come in the first over of a T20I game to give his team a great start. The 36-year-old left-arm seamer is known his for pace and swing and ability to trouble the best batters.