Rashid Khan Reaches 700 Wickets In T20 Cricket: Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner Rashid Khan has made his mark in the record books by becoming the first-ever bowler to take 700 Wickets in T20 cricket. This record-breaking feat was achieved during Afghanistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against the UAE, which marked a monumental moment in the shortest format of the game.
Rashid Khan Reaches 700 Wickets In T20 Cricket during T20 World Cup 2026
Leading from the front in Afghanistan, Rashid Khan was playing the match with 699 wickets in T20. Cricket lovers across the globe were eagerly waiting for the historic wicket, and it finally came in a dramatic manner.
Rashid Khan got the wicket of UAE batter Mohammad Arfan in the 16th over to achieve his 700th wicket in T20 cricket, becoming the first bowler in the world to achieve this remarkable feat. This feat further cements Rashid Khan’s position as one of the best T20 bowlers of all time.
Historic 700th Wicket Comes via Hit Wicket
What’s more, Rashid Khan achieved his 700th wicket in a rare manner, through a hit-wicket dismissal. Mohammad Arfan was trying to play a reverse sweep but missed the ball and got his stumps knocked out, resulting in Rashid Khan’s historic achievement.
This was Rashid Khan’s last over of the innings. Rashid Khan had been bowling economically but had not taken a wicket yet in the match. Interestingly, he had taken his 698th and 699th wickets in the last match against South Africa.
Rashid Khan Surpasses Dwayne Bravo
With 700 Wickets in T20, Rashid Khan is now comfortably leading the list of other great bowlers in the format.
Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 700 wickets*
Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) – 631 wickets
Read More
Sunil Narine (West Indies) – 613 wickets
Imran Tahir (South Africa) – 572 wickets
Andre Russell (West Indies) – 508 wickets
Rashid Khan had already surpassed Bravo some years back, but achieving 700 wickets puts him in a league of his own.
Highest Wicket-Taker in T20I Cricket
Apart from being the dominant force in the franchise leagues across the world, Rashid Khan is also the leading wicket-taker in the T20 Internationals (T20Is).
His 700th overall T20 wicket also happened to be his 191st wicket for Afghanistan in the T20 Internationals. He is followed by:
Tim Southee – 164 T20I wickets
Ish Sodhi – 162 T20I wickets
Strong Comeback After Back Surgery
Though Rashid underwent surgery for his back in 2023 and struggled to regain his top-class performance, his recent displays have been quite impressive.
In a series against the West Indies, he gave away only 51 runs in 12 overs and took five wickets in three high-scoring matches. He also bowled an economical spell in the first match of the T20 World Cup against New Zealand, ranking him as the second most economical bowler for Afghanistan. His recent displays after surgery have shown why he is still a force to be reckoned with in international cricket.
Rashid Khan’s 700 Wickets in T20: A Testament to Greatness
The milestone of 700 wickets in T20 cricket is more than just a number; it symbolizes Rashid Khan’s longevity, skill, fitness, and unparalleled consistency in the shortest format of the game.
Rashid Khan, at a relatively young age, has already achieved a record that might last for several years. With his hunger for success and continued performance in international and domestic competitions around the world, this milestone could be just the beginning of an even more illustrious career.
The journey of Rashid Khan is not over yet, but one thing is for sure: Rashid Khan has now solidified his position as a T20 legend with the achievement of the 700-wicket milestone.
ALSO READ: Slowest Fifties in T20 World Cup History: 5 Batsmen Who Took The Most Balls To Reach 50
