New Zealand has never had the biggest pool of cricket talent.
But the Black Caps have always punched above their weight, especially with the ball in T20Is.
The bowlers who make this list have done it across different eras, formats, and conditions.
Spinners, seamers, strike bowlers. Each brought something different to the attack.
Most Wickets for New Zealand in T20Is
Here’s a look at the five New Zealand bowlers with the most wickets for the Black Caps in T20I cricket.
The Five New Zealand Bowlers With the Most T20I Wickets
5. Lockie Ferguson — 76 Wickets
Ferguson is a pure strike bowler. In 54 T20I matches, he has bowled 1,109 balls and taken 76 wickets at a strike rate of 14.59 and an economy of 7.33.
That strike rate tells the real story. He gets wickets quickly. His speed and bounce make him hard to collar in the powerplay and at the death.
His best figures are 5/21, taken against the West Indies in Auckland in November 2020. That spell earned him his place among the format’s better pace options.
Ferguson has also featured in the IPL, debuting for Punjab Kings against Rajasthan Royals in the 2026 season.
4. Trent Boult — 83 Wickets
Trent Boult made his T20I debut in February 2013. Over 61 matches, he took 83 wickets from 1,389 deliveries, averaging 21.43 at an economy of 7.68.
He had two four-wicket hauls in the format. The standout was a 4/13 against Sri Lanka at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Sydney. Sri Lanka’s top order simply had no answer for his swing and variation that day.
Boult’s T20I output is slightly overshadowed by his red-ball and ODI reputation. But 83 wickets across 61 games is a strong return, especially from a bowler operating in a format that usually favours batters.
3. Mitchell Santner — 142 Wickets
Santner sits third on this list, but make no mistake: his 142 T20I wickets came with some of the best economy figures in New Zealand’s T20 history.
Across 138 matches, he has maintained an economy of 7.17 and a strike rate of 19.9. That combination of control and penetration is rare for a spinner in the shortest format.
His best spell was 4/11 against India in Nagpur during the 2016 T20 World Cup. He removed Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, and Hardik Pandya in that game.
It was one of the most effective bowling performances by any New Zealand player at a T20 World Cup.
Santner picked up a shoulder injury during IPL 2026 while playing for the Mumbai Indians, which has temporarily sidelined him from international cricket.
2. Tim Southee — 164 Wickets
Tim Southee retired from Test cricket in December 2024, ending one of the longest careers New Zealand cricket has seen.
In T20Is, his record is equally impressive: 164 wickets from 126 games.
His economy of 8.00 was a touch expensive, but his strike rate of 16.7 shows he was always taking wickets.
He also captained New Zealand’s Test side for a period when Kane Williamson stepped back from the role in 2022.
His best T20I figures, 5/18, came against Pakistan in Auckland in December 2010.
That spell is still one of the most dominant single performances by a Kiwi seamer in the format.
Southee finishes his international career as New Zealand’s second-highest T20I wicket-taker, just behind the man who finally overtook him.
1. Ish Sodhi — 165 Wickets
Ish Sodhi is now the outright leader.
The 33-year-old leg-spinner became New Zealand’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is when he dismissed Shamim Hossain in the third T20I against Bangladesh on 2 May 2025 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.
He claimed just one wicket in that match (for 22 runs from three overs), but it was enough.
New Zealand won the game via the DLS method, chasing a target of 103.
From 141 T20I matches, Sodhi has taken 165 wickets at an economy of 8.16 and a strike rate of 16.92.
He also holds the record for the most four-wicket hauls for New Zealand in the format, with four instances across 465.2 overs.
Leg-spin in T20 cricket is a high-risk option. Sodhi has made it work consistently, across home conditions and overseas, over a long international career.
Summary Table: New Zealand’s Top 5 T20I Wicket-Takers
| Rank | Player | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Strike Rate | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ish Sodhi | 141 | 165 | 8.16 | 16.92 | — |
| 2 | Tim Southee | 126 | 164 | 8.00 | 16.70 | 5/18 |
| 3 | Mitchell Santner | 138 | 142 | 7.17 | 19.90 | 4/11 |
| 4 | Trent Boult | 61 | 83 | 7.68 | — | 4/13 |
| 5 | Lockie Ferguson | 54 | 76 | 7.33 | 14.59 | 5/21 |
What Makes These Bowlers Stand Out?
Three things are worth noting across this group.
- Wicket-taking ability across formats. Southee and Boult were Test stalwarts first. Santner is a genuine all-rounder. Sodhi and Ferguson are the T20 specialists. Despite their different roles, all five found ways to be effective in the shortest format.
- Economy vs. aggression. Santner’s 7.17 economy is the best of the five. Ferguson’s 14.59 strike rate is the most dangerous. Both approaches work, just in different ways.
- Longevity. Sodhi has played 141 T20Is. Southee played 126. Santner has 138. These aren’t batters’ padding stats; these are bowlers grinding through pressure situations over long careers.
FAQs
Who has taken the most wickets for New Zealand in T20Is?
Ish Sodhi leads the list with 165 wickets from 141 T20I matches, as of May 2025.
- How many T20I wickets does Tim Southee have?
Southee has 164 wickets from 126 T20I matches, making him the second-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand.
- What are Mitchell Santner’s T20I bowling stats?
Santner has taken 142 wickets in 138 T20I matches, with an economy of 7.17 and a strike rate of 19.9.
- What is Lockie Ferguson’s best T20I bowling performance?
Ferguson’s best figures are 5/21, taken against the West Indies in Auckland in November 2020.
- When did Ish Sodhi become New Zealand’s highest T20I wicket-taker?
He broke the record on 2 May 2025, during the third T20I against Bangladesh in Dhaka.
- What is Trent Boult’s best spell in T20 internationals?
Boult’s best T20I performance was 4/13 against Sri Lanka at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Sydney.
Conclusion:
Ish Sodhi’s record-breaking moment against Bangladesh in May 2025 marks a real milestone for New Zealand cricket.
He has been a consistent performer across his entire career, and reaching the top of this list was well-earned.
Behind him, Southee, Santner, Boult, and Ferguson form one of the more capable bowling groups any associate-sized nation has produced.
New Zealand has consistently found bowlers who fit the T20 format, and this list shows exactly why.
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