The greatest cricket tournament on Earth - the T20 World Cup - will get underway in America and the Caribbean next month. While the batters are expected to rule the roost, the slow and low surfaces in the Caribbean and the drop-in pitches in New York could assist the pacers and spinners alike and that will make for a more even contest between bat and ball in the tournament.
Before we look at five bowlers who could have a major impact in the competition, why not check out the GGBet bonus for the best odds on the Tournament.
1. JASPRIT BUMRAH (INDIA)
Nevermind what the rankings might say, Jasprit Bumrah is the best limited-overs' bowler in the world and will pose a big challenge to the opposition batters with the new ball. He has bagged 74 wickets in 61 innings at an average of 19.66 and strike rate of 17.9 in T20I cricket. Bumrah is not only a great wicket-taker in the format but is also phenomenally restrictive. His economy rate of 6.55 is the best amongst all pacers with a minimum of 50 wickets. Bumrah concedes just 6.3 runs per over in the powerplay and is brilliant at the death with his lethal yorkers and an economy of just 7.1 - the best-ever amongst all pacers who have bowled at least 20 overs in this phase of play!
Bumrah has been in devastating form with the ball in the current season of the IPL. He is, by a country mile, the highest impact bowler of the tournament with a tally of 20 wickets in 13 matches at a strike rate of 15.5 and economy of 6.48. Bumrah returned with seven wickets in five matches at the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE at an average of 13.6 and economy of 5.08.
2. TRENT BOULT (NEW ZEALAND)
One of the best new ball bowlers in white-ball cricket in the world, Trent Boult is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the powerplay in T20 cricket history with 97 dismissals at an economy of 7.2. He also has a unique knack of picking wickets in the first over and has returned with 35 wickets at an economy of 5.8 off the first 6 deliveries of his spell through his T20 career.
Boult played a big part in Mumbai Indians' historic triumph at the IPL in 2020 bagging 25 wickets at a strike rate of 13.7. He was brilliant with the new ball in the initial part of the Rajasthan Royal's campaign this season when they dominated the tournament. Boult played a huge part in taking MI Emirates to the title at the 2024 ILT20 in the UAE where he was the third-highest wicket-taker with 16 wickets in 12 matches.
Boult has picked 74 wickets in 57 T20I matches for New Zealand. He was in brilliant form in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE where he bagged 13 wickets from just seven matches at a strike rate of 12.7 and economy of 6.25, playing a pivotal role in taking New Zealand to the final.
3. SHAHEEN SHAH AFRIDI (PAKISTAN)
Shaheen Shah Afridi's wicket-taking propensity stands out in T20I cricket and he has bagged 88 wickets in just 64 appearances for Pakistan at an excellent strike rate of 15.8 - which is amongst the best of all-time! Afridi is a nightmare for the right-handers with 71 of his 88 international wickets against their ilk. He has a stunning strike rate of 13.9 against RHB. Afridi has picked 15 wickets in the very first over which showcases his threat with the new ball. He has also been in top-notch form this year with 24 dismissals in 12 matches at a strike rate of 10.5. Afridi played a leading role with the ball in taking Pakistan to the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia - he returned with 11 wickets in seven matches at an economy of 6.15.
Afridi has also been a sensation in the PSL and gave a Player of the Match performance in the 2023 final for the Lahore Qalandars. He was the leading wicket-taker for them in 2024 too.
4. MITCHELL STARC (AUSTRALIA)
Mitchell Starc has not had a great season at the IPL where, despite his record price tag, he has been erratic and inconsistent for the Knight Riders. However, the veteran left-arm seamer is one of the greatest fast bowlers in white-ball history and raises his game on the biggest stage in the world tournaments. He was the joint highest wicket-taker in the victorious 2015 World Cup at home and the highest in the 2019 edition in England.
Starc is a wicket-taker for Australia in the shortest format too with 74 dismissals in 60 matches at a strike rate of 18.2 and economy of 7.67. Overall, Starc has a tally of 183 wickets in 133 T20 innings and his bowling strike rate of 15.9 places him in the top cluster in the format.
5. KULDEEP YADAV (INDIA)
Kuldeep Yadav will be a handful on the slow and low and unpredictable and often two-paced wickets in the Caribbean and could be the trump card for India in the middle overs. The Chinaman has bagged 59 wickets in just 34 appearances and his strike rate of 12.5 is the best-ever for a spinner (min. 50 wickets) in the history of T20I cricket. Kuldeep has also been very restrictive and has an economy of 6.74 in the format. He has seen a resurgence in his performance since 2022 and has returned with 18 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 13.8 and economy of 5.95 during this period.
Kuldeep has been in top form for the Delhi Capitals in this season of the IPL and has bagged 16 wickets in 11 matches at a strike rate of 16. He has accounted for 47 wickets in the last three editions of the tournament at a strike rate of 18.
