Since his 2015 debut, Mustafizur Rahman has been the top pacer for Bangladesh. Since then, in addition to being the most bankable option with the ball, he has demonstrated his abilities in franchise leagues across the globe and gained notoriety for his nearly indestructible off-cutter.
He now has 150 wickets to his credit, surpassing Shakib Al Hasan as the top wicket-taker in T20Is after bowling for Bangladesh in 117 innings in the shortest format. In the current Asia Cup Super Four match against India, he accomplished the feat by dismissing captain Suryakumar Yadav caught behind the wicket.
Abhishek Sharma, the opener, destroyed him in the powerplay as the Indian hit two sixes and scored 17 runs off the over. The batter simply gloved it back to the keeper in an effort to twist it away, but Mustafizur Rahman struck on the final ball of the over when he returned in the 12th over, bowling a cutter into Suryakumar’s body from above the wicket.
Abhishek was run out on the first ball of that over, which placed India on the defensive and hindered their high-flying scoreboard. India never really bounced back from that, finishing the innings at 168/6 with just 96 runs for six wickets following the powerplay.
Bangladesh’s highest T20I wicket total
Mustafizur Rahman – 150 in 117 innings
Shakib Al Hasan – 149 in 126 innings
Taskin Ahmed – 99 in 79 innings
Mahedi Hasan – 61 in 64 innings
Shoriful Islam – 58 in 52 innings