Afghanistan‘s superstar leg-spinner Rashid Khan has reached a remarkable milestone, setting a new world record in T20 cricket.

A record-breaking feat for Rashid Khan

Playing for MI Cape Town in the SA20 2025 League in South Africa, Rashid claimed two crucial wickets in a match against Paarl Royals, surpassing West Indies’ legendary all-rounder Dwayne Bravo to become the highest wicket-taker in T20 history. With this achievement, Rashid’s total tally of wickets across international T20s and franchise leagues has now reached 633 wickets. Among these, Rashid has taken 161 wickets for Afghanistan in T20 Internationals, while securing 472 wickets in various T20 franchise leagues and domestic competitions worldwide. This makes him the most prolific bowler in the shortest format of the game, reaffirming his status as one of the greatest T20 players of all time.

The landmark match: Rashid’s crucial wickets

Rashid’s record-breaking moment came in the SA20 2025 Qualifier 1 at St George’s Park, Gqeberha. Leading the Cape Town, Rashid surpassed Bravo’s tally of 631 wickets when he dismissed Sri Lankan all-rounder Dunith Wellalage. Shortly after, he removed experienced Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik, further cementing his place in the record books. In the same match, MI Cape Town’s bowling attack, including Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada and Corbin Bosch, played a key role in restricting the Royals to 160 in 19.5 overs, securing a 39-run victory and a place in the SA20 final. Rashid’s spell saw him return figures of 2/33 in four overs, adding another memorable chapter to his already illustrious career.

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Rashid’s T20 career in numbers

Rashid’s meteoric rise in T20 cricket has been nothing short of spectacular. The Afghan spin wizard has been a match-winner for every team he has represented. In his T20 career so far, he has played a total of 461 matches and taken 633 wickets. His impressive bowling average of 18.07 reflects his consistency in picking wickets, while his best bowling figures of 6/17 highlight his ability to single-handedly dismantle opposition lineups. Rashid has recorded four five-wicket hauls and 16 four-wicket hauls, further proving his dominance as a wicket-taking bowler.

What makes him even more dangerous is his remarkable economy rate of 6.50 runs per over, which is exceptionally low for a bowler who operates in the shortest and most explosive format of the game. Among active cricketers, Rashid Khan is in a league of his own, with the next-highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket being Sunil Narine of West Indies, who has 574 wickets from 536 matches. Rashid’s dominance in T20 bowling is unparalleled, and at just 26 years old, he has the potential to become the first bowler in history to reach 1,000 T20 wickets if he remains injury-free.

Rashid’s journey from Afghanistan to T20 stardom

Rashid Khan’s T20 journey began in 2015 when he made his debut for Afghanistan at the age of 17 against Zimbabwe. Over the years, he has transformed into one of the most sought-after players in global T20 leagues. His ability to deliver sharp, deceptive leg-spin, along with his control and variations, has made him a match-winner across formats. Rashid has represented several elite T20 franchises across the world, making an impact in almost every major league.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has played for Gujarat Titans (GT) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), becoming a vital part of their bowling attacks. In the Big Bash League (BBL), he has been a dominant force for the Adelaide Strikers. His presence has also been felt in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he has represented Barbados Royals and Guyana Amazon Warriors.

In the SA20 League, he currently leads Cape Town, while in England’s The Hundred, he has been a key player for Trent Rockets. Additionally, he has featured in the International League T20 (ILT20) for MI Emirates and Major League Cricket (MLC) for Los Angeles Knight Riders. His impact in franchise cricket has been massive, making him a top pick in almost every major T20 league worldwide.

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