The excitement for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup is beginning to reach its climax as we edge closer to the first match of the tournament. Cricket fans are in for a treat as world-renowned batters and bowlers get ready to showcase their skills in the Caribbean and the USA. It would be interesting to see who finishes as the top scorer and the highest wicket-taker at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
Top five bowlers who could be the highest wicket-taker at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup
There are going to be plenty of young and experienced players in action at this year’s World Cup. Here are the five potential candidates who could be named as the highest wicket-taker at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
5. Imad Wasim – Pakistan
At number five we have got Pakistan’s spin all-rounder Imad Wasim. The 35-year-old might seem like an odd candidate to receive the top wicket-taker award at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, but he has certainly got all the pedigree to do so.
Imad is ranked among those players who have had the most experience playing in the Caribbean in the last seven to eight years. Since 2016, he has featured in 54 Caribbean Premier League games (CPL) and has picked up 61 wickets.
Furthermore, he is ranked 3rd in the all-time list of the highest number of wickets taken by foreign players in the CPL. Hence, he is fully aware of the conditions in that part of the world which would give him a major advantage over other bowlers from Asian and SENA countries. The 35-year-old can turn out to be Pakistan’s most lethal bowler at this year’s World Cup.
4. Andre Russell – West Indies
Like Imad Wasim, Andre Russell also has an outside chance of finishing among the leading wicket-taking bowlers at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. The 36-year-old enters the tournament in a rich vein of form after having a brilliant run in the recently concluded Indian Premier League.
The West Indies pacer picked up 19 wickets in 15 games and was instrumental in securing the title for Kolkata Knight Riders. He troubled batters with his accurate line, length, and lethal bouncers. This allowed him to pick up crucial wickets in the middle overs.
Russell is also ranked 7th on the all-time list for most wickets in the CPL. Overall, the veteran boasts an impressive record of picking up 449 wickets in 497 T20 games. Given the home advantage and his recent form, Russell has a great chance of taking plenty of wickets for the West Indies in the World Cup.
3. Jasprit Bumrah – India
No matter what the situation or the condition of the pitch is, a certain pace sensation always manages to bring his a-game to the forefront. And that man is India’s right-arm pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah has been spearheading India’s pace attack for the last five years.
The 30-year-old has not played much T20 cricket for team India in recent times, but he has been doing well for them in the longer formats of the game. He will be heading into the tournament after yet another stellar season in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Although his team finished rock bottom, his performances were top-notch as he took 20 wickets in 13 innings at an economy rate of just 6.48. The Ahmedabad-born pacer has 280 scalps to his name in 225 T20 games. Given that track record, the 30-year-old is certain to finish among the top wicket-takers at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.
2. Jofra Archer – England
Jofra Archer is back after spending a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a stress fracture in his elbow. The 29-year-old has had a torrid time with injuries and has featured in only 20 competitive games in the last 42 months. Finally, Archer is back to full fitness and raring to go for the World Cup.
He gave us a glimpse of his lethal fast bowling in the recently concluded T20I series against Pakistan. The Englishman was on song in both the games against Pakistan and picked up 3 scalps, at an economy rate of 7.53, during the series. English fans were delighted to see their star man bowling over 90 mph, causing havoc for Pakistan’s batters.
Jofra has picked up 172 T20 wickets in 137 T20 games so far. If he manages to maintain his fitness, he is certainly going to end the tournament among top wicket-taking bowlers at this year’s World Cup.
1. Wanindu Hasaranga – Sri Lanka
Wanindu Hasaranga is another spinner on our list who could be crowned the highest wicket-taker at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup. Like Archer, Hasaranga has also had a fair share of injuries in the past couple of years. This has led to him missing key games for his country, including last year’s ODI World Cup in India.
He was also forced to pull out of this year’s IPL due to heel pain. Hasaranga has utilized that time by completing his rehab at home and playing domestic games to regain his match fitness. The Sri Lankan skipper would be eager to perform well in this year’s World Cup having recovered fully from his injury.
He is the man for the big occasions as is evident from the fact that he has finished as the top wicket-taker in each of the last two T20 World Cups. And he is equally capable of making it three in a row.
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