Well, if you’re a fan of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, you would agree that the five-wicket haul can undoubtedly prove to be a fate-changing moment in the most crucial matches and is often hailed as one of the most commemorated moments for international bowlers. While it’s considered extremely crucial for bowlers to pick up early wickets in the T20 World Cup, a few trailblazing bowlers have managed to annihilate even the finest batting lineups in the world with their ruthless bowling spell and destructive five-wicket hauls. Have you ever wondered about the top four bowlers who have claimed the most five-wicket hauls in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup? Well, let’s find out.
In this article we will take a look at the top four bowlers who have picked up the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as of January 2026.
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup : Top 4 Bowlers With Most Five-Wicket Hauls
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Ajantha Mendis, Sri Lanka
The legendary former Sri Lankan international cricketer Anjantha Mendis, is at the first spot in our list of the top four bowlers who have claimed the most five-wicket hauls in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as of January 2026. Often hailed as the ‘mystery spinner’, Ajantha Mendis represented Sri Lanka across all formats of international cricket from 2008 to 2015 and played a record total of 21 T20 World Cup matches and picked up a phenomenal total of 35 wickets throughout his star-studded international cricketing career.
Ajantha Mendis unleashed a ruthless bowling attack against Zimbabwe in a group stage match of the T20 World Cup 2012 and picked up a spine-chilling total of six wickets allowing just four runs which played a crucial role in leading Sri Lanka to a sensational victory against Zimbabwe. As of January 2026, Ajantha Mendis continues to be the only international bowler to achieve the coveted feat of picking up six wickets in a single T20 World Cup match, speaking volumes about his unmatched legacy.
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Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka
At the second spot in our list of the top four bowlers who have picked up the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as of January 2026, we have another Sri Lankan former international cricketer, Lasith Malinga, who is widely regarded as one of the most successful and lethal bowlers in the history of international cricket.
The Sri Lankan bowling sensation, Lasith Malinga, also often popularly referred to as ‘Slinga Malinga’ by millions of his hardcore fans from every nook and corner of the world, played a record total of 31 T20 World Cup matches throughout his star-studded international cricketing career and picked up a commanding total of 38 wickets. Lasith Malinga delivered one of the most successful bowling performances in the ICC World Twenty20 2012 against England and picked up a spine-chilling total of five wickets allowing just 31 runs, which continues to be the second-most dominant bowling innings after Ajantha Mendis as of January 2026.
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Umar Gul, Pakistan
Next, at the third spot in our list of the top four bowlers who have claimed the most five-wicket hauls in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as of January 2026, we have the former Pakistani international cricketer and current coach of Pakistan’s national cricket team, Umar Gul who is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers to ever represent Pakistan on an international level. Umar Gul was a member of the Pakistan team that clinched the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 tournament.
Throughout his star-studded international cricketing career, the sensational Pakistani bowler Umar Gul played a record total of 24 T20 World Cup matches between 2007 and 2016 and picked up a record total of 35 wickets, making him one of the most successful bowlers in the history of the tournament. Also, Umar Gul delivered one of the most memorable bowling innings of his career against New Zealand at the 2009 T20 World Cup and picked up a record total of five wickets, allowing just six runs, which continues to be one of the most shocking and devastating five-wicket hauls in the history of the tournament.
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Fazalhaq Farooqi, Afghanistan
Finally, at the fourth spot in our list of the top four bowlers who have picked up the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as of January 2026, we have the 25-year-old sensational Afghan international cricketer Fazalhaq Farooqi who made his much-awaited international debut for the Afghanistan national cricket team in 2021 and has been a mainstay for the squad ever since.
The young bowling sensation from Afghanistan, Fazalhaq Farooqi, unleashed his finest bowling potential in Afghanistan’s Group C match at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup against Uganda and claimed a spine-chilling total of five wickets, allowing just nine runs in his four overs which played a crucial role in leading Afghanistan to a sensational and memorable victory against Uganda after their entire batting lineup was bowled out for just 58 runs. Fazalhaq Farooqi undoubtedly garnered immense praise and recognition from millions of cricket aficionados from all over the world for his unmatched bowling dominance throughout the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup tournament.
