Noor Ahmad Goes Past T20 Veterans; Becomes Leading Wicket Taker Of 2025

Aakash Saini

Top 5 highest wicket takers in T20s [Source: @ACBofficials/x]Top 5 highest wicket takers in T20s [Source: @ACBofficials/x]

Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad toppled a legendary West Indies all-rounder with his latest two-fer by becoming the most successful bowler of the year 2025 in T20s, at least in terms of number of wickets. Moreover, the youngster also extended his dominance to remain the best spinner of the year by a landslide.

Celebrating Noor Ahmad’s rise and a shift in the year’s T20 landscape, here is a look at five of the highest wicket takers of 2025 in 20-overs matches.

5. Riley Meredith – 56 wickets

Australian T20 globe-trotter Riley Meredith has snapped up 56 wickets in just 31 innings of the year 2025 so far. The cricketer has maintained an impressive bowling average of just 17.25 in the process. Having played for Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL at home, the Islamabad United in the PSL, Somerset in Vitality T20 Blast 2025 and Welsh Fire in The Hundred; the right-arm Tasmanian quick has bowled, and succeeded, in various playing conditions off late.

4. Mohammad Amir – 59 wickets

Pakistan pace veteran Mohammad Amir has collected 59 T20 wickets this year in just 43 innings at an average of 21.33, and with an economy of 8.26. Amir has represented five different teams in the past nine months, making his presence felt with the ball for four of them. In the Vitality T20 Blast 2025 season, Amir picked up 20 wickets in just 14 games for Essex. For the Trinbago Knight Riders franchise in CPL 2025 in the Caribbean, the former Pakistan bowler has claimed 11 wickets in seven innings.

Mohammad Amir also picked up 27 wickets in just 20 innings for the Quetta Gladiators and Desert Vipers franchises combined in PSL 2025 and ILT20 2025 seasons.

3. Hasan Ali – 67 wickets

Out-of-favour Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali has emerged as the most successful fast bowler of the year in T20s by a landslide. The 31-year-old has racked up a staggering haul of 67 wickets in just 32 innings at an average of 16.11, the best among the five leading wicket-takers of the year. Moreover, Hasan Ali has also claimed three four-wicket hauls and two separate five-fers.

He has played for teams like Birmingham Bears in T20 Blast, Karachi Kings in PSL 2025, Sialkot in Pakistan’s domestic tournament as well as six internationals for the Pakistan cricket team, picking up 12 wickets while donning his nation’s green jersey.


2. Jason Holder – 70 wickets

In terms of number of wickets, West Indies T20 warhorse Jason Holder remains the most successful fast bowler of the year 2025 in 20-overs matches, having picked up 70 wickets in just 50 innings at an average of 22.74. Holder has also maintained an economy of 8.68, and is striking once every 15.71 balls. The lanky paceman picked up 16 of those wickets in 12 T20Is for the West Indies cricket team.

A Knight Riders zealot, Jason Holder has snared 17 wickets in 10 innings of ILT20 2025 for the franchise’s Abu Dhabi team, and another nine for Los Angeles in MLC 2025. Holder also enjoyed a prolific run for the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (13 wickets) and Islamabad United (17 wickets) in CPL 2025 and PSL 2025 respectively.


1. Noor Ahmad – 71 wickets

Afghanistan spin wizard Noor Ahmad went past Jason Holder’s collection of T20 wickets in 2025 after his two-wicket spell against Bangladesh in match nine of the 2025 Men’s T20 Asia Cup in September. With 71 wickets in just 49 innings, Ahmad is now the leading wicket-taker of the year in T20s, all with an impressive bowling average of 18.28 and an economy of just 7.27.

While the youngster failed to make an impact in The Hundred for Manchester Originals, Noor Ahmad impressed one-and-all with his wicket-taking spree in MLC 2025 for Texas Super Kings (15 wickets), in IPL 2025 for Chennai Super Kings (24 wickets), and in SA20 2025 for Durban’s Super Giants (13 wickets). The 20-year-old has also claimed eight wickets in his last five T20I matches for Afghanistan.