Cricket
Who Has the Most 4-Wicket Hauls in T20s? A Ranking
With T20 cricket said to be transforming into the batsman’s game, bowlers taking four wickets in a single match remain a valuable commodity. In a format where overs are few and impact performances matter, being able to claim regular dismissals is often a major difference-maker. Batsmen aim for high-intensity spells at the crease while some bowlers have specialised in keeping scores low by removing danger men. To find the masters of this skill, SportsBoom looks at the top T20 bowling match-winners, based on a statistical analysis and expert opinions. From stars of first-tier cricket to associate nation talents aiming to upset the order, they boast the most impactful T20 bowling performances.
Umar Gul of Pakistan celebrates after dismissing Brad Hodge//Getty Images
SB Market Index: How We Evaluate T20's Premier Wicket-Takers
This evaluation of the top T20 wicket-takers records combines a statistical analysis of their four-wicket haul achievements with expert and media perception of their overall impact as T20 bowlers, to provide a comprehensive ranking (the SB Market Index).
Industry Insights
This curated analysis from top 10 cricketing and sports media sources measures how prominently each of these bowlers is featured in discussions of the ‘greatest’ or ‘most impactful’ T20 bowlers of all time.
Industry Insights
| Source Name | Rashid Khan | Henry Ssenyondo | Shakib Al Hasan | Rizwan Butt | Nalin Nipiko | Dhruv Maisuria | Umar Gul |
| ESPNcricinfo – T20 XI of the Decade | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wisden – T20 Cricketer of the 2010s | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sky Sports Cricket – ‘T20 GOAT Bowler’ debate | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cricbuzz – ‘Best T20 Players Ever’ feature | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| The Cricketer – Top 50 T20 Players list | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sportskeeda – ‘Greatest T20 Bowlers of All Time’ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Reddit r/Cricket – All-Time T20 XI polls | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bleacher Report – ‘Ranking T20's Most Feared Bowlers’ | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cricket Monthly – Impact Bowler Analysis | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TalkSPORT – ‘Top 10 T20 Bowlers’ countdown | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Mentions | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
SB Score
This score is calculated based on two key T20 bowling metrics: total four-wicket hauls (50% weightage) and frequency of four-wicket hauls (Innings per 4-fer, 50% weightage).
SB Score
| Player | 4-Wicket Hauls | Innings Per 4-Fer | SB Score |
| Nalin Nipiko | 6 | 5.17 | 1.000 |
| Dhruv Maisuria | 6 | 5.83 | 0.941 |
| Rashid Khan | 10 | 9.60 | 0.781 |
| Umar Gul | 6 | 10.00 | 0.758 |
| Henry Ssenyondo | 8 | 10.75 | 0.758 |
| Rizwan Butt | 7 | 10.71 | 0.730 |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 8 | 15.75 | 0.592 |
SB Market Index
The combined SB Score and Industry Insights scores have been combined for the final SB Market Index, to find the best at T20 four-wicket haul frequency.
| Rank | Player | SB Score | Industry Insights | SB Market Index |
| 1 | Rashid Khan | 0.781 | 10 | 8.156 |
| 2 | Shakib Al Hasan | 0.592 | 10 | 8.118 |
| 3 | Umar Gul | 0.758 | 6 | 4.952 |
| 4 | Nalin Nipiko | 1.000 | 0 | 0.200 |
| 5 | Dhruv Maisuria | 0.941 | 0 | 0.188 |
| 6 | Henry Ssenyondo | 0.758 | 0 | 0.152 |
| 7 | Rizwan Butt | 0.730 | 0 | 0.146 |
The Elite Legends: Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan
At the top of SportsBoom’s comprehensive ranking are two cricketers who have etched their name in the history books for their countries and shone at the domestic level.
One of these is Afghani spinner, Rashid Khan, who became the top wicket-taker in T20 history this year, surpassing West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo’s record tally of 631.
The other is Shakib Al Hasan, one of Bangladesh’s greatest players and the only to have scored above 2,500 runs and taken more than 100 wickets in the international arena.
As legends of the game in their own right, the two superstars’ T20 cricket bowling stats have been clearly shown through their respective perfect Industry Insights ratings.
Rashid Khan, in particular, also claimed the top position in the SB Market Index through his superior SB Score, with the third-best innings-per-four-wicket-haul statistic.
The T20 Pioneer: Umar Gul
Umar Gul has also boasted a strong third-place finish in this analysis, driven by results in both the Industry Insights and SB Score.
The Pakistan legend, who arguably achieved the most success in T20Is, was known for his impactful spells and death bowling.
Some of Gul’s memorable outings include the 2009 T20 World Cup, where he took the most wickets as his country took the title.
With his accuracy and pace, the retired Pakistan bowler was a master of the yorker and his work ethic has become venerated.
The Statistical Marvels from Associate Nations
An interesting factor of this analysis is the prevalence of associate nation players, whose achievements have them truly punching above their weight in world cricket.
For instance, Vanuatu captain Nalin Nipiko boasts a remarkable innings-per-four-wicket-haul ratio of 5.17, which has contributed to a table-topping result in the SB Score.
Similarly, Botswana’s Dhruv Maisuria has managed to claim T20 four-fers every 5.83 matches, while Uganda’s Henry Ssenyondo had a decent rate of below 11 per game.
However, despite the achievements of these bowlers for their countries, their final ranking in this model was greatly affected by their lesser status in the eyes of the media.
While the associate nations do not enjoy the same coverage and esteem of the first-tier nations, it is possible that growing interest in these ‘outsiders’ shifts that narrative.
Conclusion on T20's Match-Winning Bowlers
In conclusion, Rashid Khan stands tall in this analysis thanks to some of the best T20 bowling spells and a reputation as a fearsome leg-spinner capable of four-wicket hauls.
Shakib Al Hasan and Umar Gul are also among the elite performers in this comprehensive model, with a strong result also recorded among the associate cricket bowlers.
No matter which level of international T20 cricket they represent, claiming four wickets in an innings remains a noteworthy feat that has seen these stars rightly celebrated.
Bruce Douglas has more than 12 years of experience in local news media. He has worked at all levels of print and online publication, from crime and politics to photography, newspaper layout, proofreading, mentoring, sub-editing, and leading a newsroom. He played numerous sports at the school level and enjoys keeping up to date.