The T20 World Cup 2021 came to a sensational end as Australia clinched their maiden title in the shortest format of the game on Sunday, November 14. A tournament remembered for factors like toss and dew, one major implication was the use of spin. Indeed it was the spinners who made their presence felt as they grabbed attention of the world. So here is a look at the top five bowlers who troubled batters on UAE pitches.
Wanindu Hasaranga (16 wickets)
An early exit from the T20 World Cup did not stop Sri Lankan spinner to pick up 16 wickets in the tournament. Six wickets in the qualifiers and 10 wickets in the group stages, Hasaranga entered the history books with a hat-trick against South Africa. On three occasions, the spinner picked up three wickets in an innings with a best of 3/9 against Netherlands in the qualifiers. The leg spinner also had the best economy rate of 5.20 in eight innings and made it to ICC's team of the tournament.
Adam Zampa, (13 wickets)
Adam Zampa remained one of only two players to pick five wickets in an innings in the T20 World Cup. The leg spinner's 5/19 against Bangladesh is one of the best bowling figures in the history of T20 World Cup. 13 wickets in the tournament was the joint-highest by any bowler excluding qualifiers. The 29-year-old fell three wickets short of Hasaranga’s tally of 16 wickets. He only managed to pick up one wicket in the final but bowled an economical spell. Zampa also made it to the team of the tournament.
Trent Boult (13 wickets)
New Zealand's fast-bowling spearhead Boult might have not ended up on the winning side in the final, but with 13 wickets he was the highest wicket-taking pacer in the tournament. He was also the highest wicket-taker in the 2015 World Cup with 22 alongside Mitchell Starc. 3/17 against Afghanistan in a crunch decider ended up being his best bowling figures in the tournament. 13 wickets in the tournament was also the joint highest tally of wickets by any bowler excluding qualifiers alongside Zampa. The left-arm pacer is the only Kiwi player in the team of the tournament.
Shakib Al Hasan (11 wickets)
The tracks in UAE and Oman proved to be formidable for the spinners and yet another addition to this list is Bangladesh's left-arm spinner Shakib. With 11 wickets the Bangladesh all-rounder was fourth in the list. His best bowling figures of 4/9 came in the qualifying game against Papua New Guinea (PNG) in Oman. He was successful in taking his team to the Super 12 stage, but couldn’t replicate his form as Bangladesh were eliminated in the group stage. Nine of the 11 wickets grabbed by the veteran off-spinner came in the qualifiers. His 41 wickets in T20 World Cup are the highest by any bowler in the history of the tournament. He is also the leading wicket-taker in the T20I format.
Josh Hazlewood (11 wickets)
The experience of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 second phase came in handy for the Australian seamer. Coming into the final he was an important an asset for the Aussies with three wickets in the final. Hazlewood ended up with 11 wickets in the tournament. His best performance of 4/39 came against West Indies at Abu Dhabi in a Super 12 game. Hazlewood’s bowling figures of 3/16 in the final is the joint best for a pacer in a World T20 final alongside Irfan Pathan who also had the same figures of 3/16 against Pakistan in 2007 World T20 final.
