Top 5 bowling performances in group stage of T20 World Cup 2026

Along with the batters, the group stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be remembered for some jaw-dropping bowling spells as well. From Romario Shepherd to Usman Tariq, there are multiple players who, out of the blue, put the batting side on halt.

Top 5 bowling performances in the group stage:

1. Romario Shepherd (5/20 vs Scotland): Romario Shepherd is not among the top-notch bowlers across the world. Still, he managed to encrypt his name in the history book through a hat trick, the first hat trick in the tournament. Scotland lost three batters back-to-back on 133 while chasing a target of 183. Helped by the brilliant bowling spell by the pace bowling all-rounder, West Indies won the match by 35 runs. Shepherd ended with a bowling spell of 5/20, so far the best in the campaign. 

2. Junaid Siddique (5/35 vs Canada): In a close fight contest, Junaid Siddique, the Pakistan-born UAE pacer, registered the second-best bowling figures in the group stage with 5/35. Canada scored 150 for 7. Among those 7 dismissals, Siddique caused five. The UAE eventually won the match by 5 wickets, with 2 more balls to spare. 

Read More: Top 5 batting performances in group stage of T20 World Cup 2026

3. Mohammad Nabi (4/7 vs Canada): Canada had to face another match-turning bowling spell. Afghanistan's experienced spinner was scalped 4 times only for an economy rate of 1.75. So far, the best economy rate is produced by any bowler in the list of the top 20 best bowling numbers in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. Against Afghanistan's first innings of 200, Canada got only 118 runs for 8 in 20 overs. 

4. Nathan Ellis (4/12 vs Ireland): Australia crashed out of the tournament, but one of their pacers, Nathan Ellis, left their mark. Against Ireland, Ellis got 4 wickets, offering only 12 runs in his 3.5 overs of skills, including a maiden over. Australia won the match by 67 runs after securing 182 in the first innings. The Aussie pacer was named as the best player of the game. 

5. Usman Tariq (4/16 vs Namibia): In a must-win match, Pakistan's controversial spinner Usman Tariq took 4 wickets against Namibia and helped his team to secure a spot in the Super 8. Because of Tariq's four-wicket spell, Namibia bundled only 97 against Pakistan's 199.