Most Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup History — All-Time Top Bowlers List Updated 2026

Australia’s Megan Schutt sits at the top of the all-time wicket-taking chart in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The veteran medium pacer has picked up 48 wickets in 29 innings at an average of just 11.72 and a fine strike rate of 12.43. Her economy rate of under six shows how much pressure she puts on the opposition batter. South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail and England’s Anya Shrubsole follow Schutt at the second and third positions of the table. 

All of Australia, the West Indies, England, New Zealand, and South Africa have two of their bowlers in the all-time list of the top 10 wicket-takers, which highlights their dominance in the tournament over the years. The England left-arm spinner, Sophie Ecclesstone, has a superb economy rate of under five, which is jaw-dropping in the modern age of the shortest format. 

Among those who have bagged at least 30 wickets in the Women’s T20 World Cup history, West Indies’ Deandra Dottin has the best average of 11.16, which shows how he dries up the runs to take the wickets as a reward.

Only a handful of bowlers have been able to pick five wickets in an innings of the World Cup. And the list includes India’s Priyanka Roy and Renuka Singh Thakur, Australia’s Julie Hunter and Ashleigh Gardner, South Africa’s Sune Luus, and Dottin. 

For the Indian side, Poonam Yadav is the leading wicket-taker on the list. She has picked up 28 wickets in 18 innings at an average of under 14 and a fine strike rate of 14.78, including the strong economy rate of 5.60 at the best bowling figures of 4/19 in an innings.

From Schutt to Taylor- The bowlers who defined T20 Women's Cricket across every World Cup edition

Here are the top five leading wicket-takers of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history before the 2026 season, which begins on June 12 between England and Sri Lanka at Edgbaston in Birmingham-

#1 Megan Schutt (Australia) — 48 Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup

Megan Schutt is the most successful bowler of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history. The Adelaide-born, who has played in the period between 2016 and 2024 in the ICC competition, has picked up 48 scalps in 29 innings at an average of just 11.72 and a strike rate of 12.43. 

The medium pacer, who has an economy rate of just 5.65, has bagged two four-wicket hauls at the best bowling figures of 4/18 in an innings. She has also bowled three maidens in the event’s history.

How Schutt Became the All-Time Leading Wicket Taker

Overall, the South Australian bowler has 152 wickets in the Women’s T20Is. She is currently the third leading wicket-taker in the shortest format of women’s cricket in 124 innings. She has an average of just 17.78 in the process at a strike rate of 16.66 and an economy rate of 6.40, shouldering four four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul at the best bowling figures of 5/15 in an innings.

See Also: ICC Women's T20 World Cup all-time winners list & history — Every champion from 2009 to 2024

Her best campaign of the T20 World Cup was in 2020, when she finished the event with 13 wickets in six innings at an average of just 10.30 and a strike rate of under 10. Her economy rate of 6.33 helped the team to win the home title as she had the best bowling figures of 4/18 in an inning.

#2 Shabnim Ismail (South Africa) — 43 Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup

South Africa’s Shabnam Ismail provides sheer pace and accuracy in her bowling to create pressure for the opposition batters. She is currently the second leading wicket-taker of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history. The veteran has collected 43 wickets in the process, out of 32 innings at an average of just 15.25 and a strike rate of 15.69.

Ismail has also maintained a fine economy rate of just 5.83 with the best bowling figure of 3/5 in an innings. She has bowled eight maidens in the history of the competition out of 112.3 overs.

Overall, the Cape Town-born has bagged 123 wickets in 112 innings of the Women’s T20Is at an average of under 19 and a strike rate of 19.3 with a dominating economy rate of just 5.77, with two five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figures of 5/12 in an innings.

Ismail's Best Performances Across 9 Editions

Just like Schutt, Ismail showed a fiery performance with the ball in their home T20 World Cup. During the 2023 edition, she was the second leading wicket-taker of the event with eight wickets in just six innings at an average of 16.12 and a strike rate of 16.50. The right-arm pacer also had a fine economy rate of just 5.86 with the best figures of 3/27.

#3 Anya Shrubsole (England) — 41 Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup

At the third position of the table in the most wickets of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, England’s Anya Shrubsole finds her place. She has collected a total of 41 wickets in 27 innings at an average of just 12.48 and a strong strike rate of 14.07 with an impressive economy rate of just 5.32.

Shrubsole, who has the best bowling figures of 3/6 in an innings of the competition’s history, has bowled six maidens in the process out of just 96.1 overs.

The England Pacer Who Held the Single-Edition Record

The pacer is currently the third leading wicket-taker of the WT20Is for the England side, having bagged 102 scalps in just 79 innings at an average of 15.55 and a strike rate of around 16. Her career economy rate of the shortest format is also under six, which is a superb feat, having taken two four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul at the best bowling figures of 5/11 in an innings.

See Also: New Zealand announce 15-member squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

During the 2014 season of the tournament, which was held in Bangladesh, the England pacer used the slowness of the surfaces to end with 13 wickets at a remarkable average of 7.53, taking home the Player of the Tournament award, which was the most wickets of an edition at that point in time.

#4 Ellyse Perry (Australia) — 40 Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup

One of the veterans of women’s cricket, Ellyse Perry, who played the very first and the last edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, is the fourth leading wicket-taker in the competition’s history. In 42 innings, she has picked up 40 wickets at an average of 17.67 and a strike rate of 18.30 with a strong economy rate of just 5.79.  

Perry has bowled two maiden overs in her T20 World Cup career at the best bowling figures of 3/12 in an innings.

The Sydney-born, who has also drilled 2297 runs with the bat in the shortest format of the game in 117 innings at an average of 30.22 and a strike rate of more than 117 with nine half-centuries, is the second most successful bowler in the event’s history.

Perry's All-Round Legacy in the Tournament

The pacer has taken 127 wickets in 139 innings at an average of 18.89 and a strike rate of 19.40 and an economy rate of 5.84, with the help of four four-wicket hauls at the best bowling figures of 4/12 in an innings.

See Also: England announce 15-member squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2026

Her best season with the ball came in 2010 when Perry picked up eight wickets in just five innings of the campaign. She had an average of 10.75 and a strike rate of 12.37, along with the economy rate of just 5.21 at the best bowling figures of 3/18 in an innings.

#5 Stafanie Taylor (West Indies) — 33 Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup

Another veteran pacer of the West Indies side, Stafanie Taylor, is the fifth leading wicket-taker in World Cup history. She has collected 33 wickets in 27 innings at an average of 15.51 and a strike rate of 15.63 at an impressive economy rate of 5.95, thanks to one four-wicket haul at the best bowling figures of 4/12 in an innings.

The 34-year-old has bagged a total of 98 wickets in the shortest format of the game. He has an average of 16.80 and a strike rate of 17.70 at an impressive economy rate of just 5.66, thanks to two four-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 4/12 in an innings.

The West Indies Captain Who Changed Women's Cricket

When the Caribbean side won the event at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the 2016 season, she led them to their first-ever title and was named the Player of the Tournament. She picked up eight wickets at an economy rate of 6.20. The all-rounder has clubbed 246 runs in the competition at an average of 49.20.

#6 Poonam Yadav (India) — 28 Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup

To be updated

India's Greatest Women's T20 World Cup Bowler

to be updated 

Most Wickets in a Single Women's T20 World Cup Edition

Apart from the top five, Amelia Kerr has done really well in the T20 World Cup for New Zealand. She has picked up 32 wickets in 18 innings at an average of 13.03 and an economy rate of just around five, with the best bowling figures of 4/26 in an innings.

The Indian side will begin the upcoming edition of the event on June 14 against the arch-rivals, Pakistan, at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The final of the event will take place on July 05 at the iconic Lord’s in London. 

(Amelia Kerr 15 in 2024 — record by edition table) to be updated 

Best Bowling Figures in Women's T20 World Cup History 

To be updated (Deandra Dottin 5/5 — best figures table)

Women's T20 World Cup 2026 — Which Bowlers Can Enter This List?

to be updated 

(Sophie Ecclestone, Amelia Kerr, Renuka Singh preview)

Most Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup — All-Time Top 10 Table 

Most Wickets in Women's T20 World Cup — FAQ