One wicket. That’s all it took.
When Ish Sodhi dismissed Shamim Hossain in the third T20I against Bangladesh in May 2025, he moved past Tim Southee to become the bowler with the most wickets for New Zealand in T20Is.
It was a quiet moment in a low-scoring game.
But it closed the book on a long-running question: who leads New Zealand’s all-time T20I bowling charts?
Most Wickets for New Zealand in T20Is
Now we know. Here’s the full top five, with the numbers to back it up.
Most Wickets for New Zealand in T20Is: Full Top 5
5. Lockie Ferguson — 76 Wickets
Matches: 54 | Economy: 7.33 | Strike Rate: 14.59 | Best: 5/21
Ferguson is the most dangerous wicket-taker on this list in terms of raw pace.
His strike rate of 14.59 means he takes a wicket every 14 to 15 balls, the best ratio among New Zealand’s top five T20I bowlers.
His economy of 7.33 is also the tightest here. He isn’t just fast; he’s accurate.
That combination makes him a genuine match-winner in the powerplay and at the death.
His 5/21 against the West Indies in Auckland in November 2020 remains his best T20I spell.
It was a dominant performance from start to finish, and the kind of game that cemented his place in New Zealand’s limited-overs plans.
He has since taken his form to the IPL, debuting for Punjab Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2026.
4. Trent Boult — 83 Wickets
Matches: 61 | Economy: 7.68 | Average: 21.43 | Best: 4/13
Boult’s 83 T20I wickets came from just 61 matches, which makes his per-game return one of the better ones on this list.
He averaged 21.43 per wicket and kept his economy under 7.70 throughout his career.
He took two four-wicket hauls, with the better one coming at the 2022 T20 World Cup in Sydney against Sri Lanka.
His 4/13 dismantled Sri Lanka’s top order early and gave New Zealand a comfortable path to victory.
Boult’s value in T20Is was largely in the powerplay, where the ball swings and batters are still feeling their way in.
He used those six overs better than most bowlers in world cricket during his peak years.
3. Mitchell Santner — 142 Wickets
Matches: 138 | Economy: 7.17 | Strike Rate: 19.9 | Best: 4/11
No bowler on this list has been more economical than Santner. Across 138 T20I matches, he has kept his economy at 7.17 while taking 142 wickets.
That’s a difficult combination to sustain, especially as a spinner in a format designed to punish slow bowling.
His best performance came at the 2016 T20 World Cup in Nagpur, where his 4/11 against India brought down Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, and Hardik Pandya.
New Zealand beat India that day, and Santner’s spell was the difference.
He picked up a shoulder injury during his IPL 2026 stint with the Mumbai Indians and has been out of action since.
2. Tim Southee — 164 Wickets
Matches: 126 | Economy: 8.00 | Strike Rate: 16.7 | Best: 5/18
Southee held the New Zealand T20I wicket record until May 2025.
His 164 wickets from 126 matches are still an extraordinary return, built across nearly two decades of international cricket.
His economy of 8.00 was slightly expensive compared to the others on this list, but his strike rate of 16.7 kept him effective.
He took wickets when it mattered, not just runs.
His best T20I figures, 5/18 against Pakistan in Auckland in December 2010, came early in his career and hinted at what was to come.
He also captained the Test side when Kane Williamson stepped aside in 2022, and retired from Test cricket in December 2024.
Southee leaves T20I cricket as New Zealand’s second-highest wicket-taker, one wicket behind the new record holder.
1. Ish Sodhi — 165 Wickets
Matches: 141 | Economy: 8.16 | Strike Rate: 16.92 | 4-Wicket Hauls: 4
Sodhi reached 165 T20I wickets on 2 May 2025 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.
The wicket of Shamim Hossain in the third T20I against Bangladesh was all he needed.
He finished that game with figures of 1/22 from three overs as New Zealand won via the DLS method, chasing a target of 103.
The bigger picture: 141 matches, 465.2 overs, and four four-wicket hauls, the most of any New Zealand bowler in T20I history.
His economy of 8.16 is the highest on this list, but leg-spin in T20 cricket is inherently expensive.
The wickets are the trade-off, and Sodhi has always made that trade work.
He has bowled leg-break for New Zealand since his T20I debut, through different captains, different conditions, and different eras of the format.
This record is the result of that consistency.
Stats at a Glance
| 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 |
How do these five compare?
The gap between first and fifth is 89 wickets.
But the differences in how each bowler got there are just as telling as the raw numbers.
Ferguson and Boult got there quickly, averaging more wickets per match than Sodhi or Southee.
But neither played as many games. Injuries, format priorities, and IPL commitments all played a part.
Santner and Sodhi are the spinners, and they’ve played the most matches.
Spin ages well in T20 cricket when the bowler has control, and both have it.
Santner’s economy is the best of the group. Sodhi’s haul is the highest.
Southee bridges both worlds, a seamer who played long enough and took wickets consistently enough to nearly match a specialist leg-spinner at the top of the charts.
FAQs
- Who has the most T20I wickets for New Zealand?
Ish Sodhi, has 165 wickets from 141 matches as of May 2025. He passed Tim Southee during New Zealand’s T20I series against Bangladesh.
- What is Tim Southee’s T20I wicket tally?
Southee has 164 T20I wickets from 126 matches. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in the format.
- How many T20I wickets has Mitchell Santner taken?
Santner has 142 T20I wickets across 138 matches, with an economy rate of 7.17, the best among New Zealand’s top five.
- What are Lockie Ferguson’s best T20I bowling figures?
Ferguson’s best T20I spell is 5/21, taken against the West Indies in Auckland in November 2020.
- How many four-wicket hauls does Ish Sodhi have in T20Is?
Sodhi has four four-wicket hauls in T20I cricket, the most by any New Zealand bowler in the format.
- What is Trent Boult’s T20I record?
Boult has 83 wickets from 61 T20I matches, averaging 21.43 with a best of 4/13 against Sri Lanka at the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Conclusion:
Ish Sodhi is the answer to the question of who holds the most wickets for New Zealand in T20Is.
He earned it across 141 matches, four four-wicket hauls, and one record-breaking wicket in Dhaka.
The bowlers behind him, Southee, Santner, Boult, and Ferguson, each brought something different.
Together, they form the backbone of New Zealand’s T20I bowling history from 2008 to the present.
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