The Asia Cup has been a stage for some of the finest bowling performances in cricket history. While batters often dominate headlines, bowlers have played match-winning roles across both ODI and T20I formats. From Muttiah Muralitharan’s spin wizardry to Lasith Malinga’s lethal yorkers and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing, the Asia Cup has witnessed bowlers who turned matches on their heads.
This article covers everything about the most wickets in Asia Cup history, including ODI and T20I records, best bowling figures, and key insights into the greatest performers.
Most Wickets in Asia Cup – Combined (ODI + T20I)
| Rank | Player | Country | ODIs (Wkts) | T20Is (Wkts) | Total Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 29 | 4 | 33 |
| 2 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 3 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | 25 | 4 | 29 |
| 4 | Shakib Al Hasan | Bangladesh | 22 | 6 | 28 |
| 5 | Ajantha Mendis | Sri Lanka | 26 | 0 | 26 |
| 6 | Saeed Ajmal | Pakistan | 25 | 0 | 25 |
Key Insight:
Malinga leads the overall list with 33 wickets across formats, including a record three five-wicket hauls. Jadeja remains India’s most successful bowler in Asia Cup history with 29 wickets.
Most Wickets in Asia Cup (ODI)
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Wickets | Average | Best Bowling | 5-Wkt Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 24 | 30 | 28.83 | 5/31 | 1 |
| 2 | Lasith Malinga | Sri Lanka | 14 | 29 | 20.55 | 5/34 | 3 |
| 3 | Ajantha Mendis | Sri Lanka | 8 | 26 | 10.42 | 6/13 | 2 |
| 4 | Saeed Ajmal | Pakistan | 12 | 25 | 19.40 | 3/26 | 0 |
| 5 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | 20 | 25 | 26.28 | 4/29 | 0 |
Special Mention:
Ajantha Mendis holds the best bowling figures in Asia Cup history with his magical 6/13 vs India in 2008 final – a spell that won Sri Lanka the title and earned him the Player of the Series award.
Read also : – Most Runs in Asia Cup One Season
Best Bowling Figures in Asia Cup ODIs
| Player | Figures | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ajantha Mendis (SL) | 6/13 | India | Karachi | 2008 |
| Mohammed Siraj (IND) | 6/21 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (RPS) | 2023 (Final) |
| Aaqib Javed (PAK) | 5/19 | India | Sharjah | 1995 |
| Arshad Ayub (IND) | 5/21 | Pakistan | Dhaka | 1988 |
Most Wickets in Asia Cup (T20I) History
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India | 6 | 13 | 5.34 | 5/4 |
| 2 | Amjad Javed | UAE | 7 | 12 | 7.34 | 3/25 |
| 3 | Mohammad Naveed | UAE | 7 | 11 | 5.24 | 3/14 |
| 4 | Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | 8 | 11 | 6.51 | 3/22 |
| 5 | Hardik Pandya | India | 8 | 11 | 7.01 | 3/8 |
| 6 | Al-Amin Hossain | Bangladesh | 5 | 11 | 7.96 | 3/25 |
Key Highlights:
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the only bowler with a five-wicket haul in T20 Asia Cup history (5/4 vs Afghanistan, 2022).
- UAE’s Amjad Javed and Naveed stand out as associate nation bowlers who broke into the top charts with consistent performances in 2016.
Insights
- Most Wickets in a Single Edition: Ajantha Mendis (17 wickets in 2008 Asia Cup)
- Most Five-Wicket Hauls: Lasith Malinga (3)
- Most Wickets vs One Team: Muralitharan – 17 wickets vs Bangladesh
- Best Economy (T20 Asia Cup): Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 5.34
Read more: Most Runs in Asia Cup
Conclusion
The Asia Cup has been a paradise for bowlers who thrive under pressure. Muralitharan and Malinga dominated the ODI editions with their class and consistency, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar has set the benchmark in T20Is with his swing and control. With the 2025 edition featuring top-class pacers and spinners, expect new names to join this elite list.
