Top 5 Best Bowling Figures In Men’s T20 Asia Cup Ft. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 is almost here. From September 9 to 28 in the UAE, cricket lovers across the subcontinent will witness eight nations go head-to-head in the shortest format. India, the defending champions, kick things off against hosts UAE on September 10, before the world tunes in for the blockbuster clash against Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai.

But beyond the hype of fierce rivalries and big-hitting batters, the Asia Cup has always been a stage for bowlers to carve their names into folklore. While sixes and centuries tend to dominate highlight reels, it is the bowlers—often under immense pressure in the unforgiving T20 format—who produce moments of brilliance that flip matches on their head.

Ahead of this year’s edition, we look back at the five greatest bowling performances in Asia Cup T20 history. These aren’t just numbers on a scorecard—they are stories of skill, precision, courage, and impact.

1. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 5/4 vs Afghanistan, Dubai 2022

Match: Super Four clash, September 8, 2022
Figures: 4 overs, 5 wickets for 4 runs, 1 maiden

The Dubai International Stadium has seen many special nights, but none quite like Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 5 for 4 against Afghanistan.

The stage was already set by Virat Kohli’s long-awaited T20I century—an unbeaten 122 that had the crowd roaring. Afghanistan, chasing 213, needed a miracle. Instead, they ran into a storm named Bhuvneshwar.

Swinging the ball under lights, he bowled with the control of a craftsman and the ruthlessness of an assassin. His outswingers kissed edges, his inswingers clattered into stumps, and batters were left groping in disbelief.

In just four overs, Bhuvneshwar dismantled Afghanistan’s top order, including the prized scalps of Hazratullah Zazai and Najibullah Zadran. What made the spell iconic was the economy—just four runs conceded in a format where bowlers are usually cannon fodder.

The performance was a throwback to the golden era of swing bowling, proving that pace isn’t everything—skill, accuracy, and movement remain timeless weapons. Even today, it is remembered as the single greatest bowling spell in Asia Cup T20 history.

2. Shadab Khan – 4/8 vs Hong Kong, Sharjah 2022

Match: Group Stage, September 2, 2022
Figures: 2.4 overs, 4 wickets for 8 runs

If Bhuvneshwar was about artistry, Shadab Khan’s 4/8 was about wizardry.

Pakistan had already posted a commanding total of 193 in Sharjah. For Hong Kong, survival looked difficult, but what followed was an exhibition of leg-spin brilliance.

Shadab bowled only 2.4 overs, but that was enough to completely dismantle Hong Kong’s lineup. His googlies were disguised so perfectly that three of his wickets came off wrong’uns that the batters never read. He didn’t just take wickets—he induced panic.

Every delivery carried menace, every variation sowed doubt. Within minutes, Hong Kong’s resistance crumbled, and Pakistan secured a 155-run win, booking their place in the Super Four.

This spell epitomized T20 spin bowling: short, sharp, devastating, and unplayable. In a format where spinners are often targeted, Shadab turned the tables, reminding the world why leg-spin remains the most potent weapon in T20 cricket.

3. Mohammad Nabi – 4/17 vs Hong Kong, Mirpur 2016

Match: Qualifying Stage, February 22, 2016
Figures: 4 overs, 4 wickets for 17 runs

Before Afghanistan became a giant-killer in world cricket, they were still fighting their way up the ladder in 2016. In Mirpur, against Hong Kong, it was Mohammad Nabi who underlined why Afghanistan’s rise was no fluke.

Nabi’s 4 for 17 wasn’t just about numbers—it was about control, guile, and leadership. He bowled 12 dot balls in his four-over spell, suffocating the opposition’s scoring opportunities. His dismissals came through subtle variations in flight and pace, forcing Hong Kong’s batters into rash strokes.

Afghanistan won the game convincingly, but more importantly, Nabi’s spell showcased the depth of cricketing talent emerging from the war-torn country. He wasn’t just a bowler taking wickets—he was a symbol of belief, inspiring a generation of Afghan cricketers to dream bigger.

4. Lasith Malinga – 4/26 vs UAE, Mirpur 2016

Match: Group Stage, February 25, 2016
Figures: 4 overs, 4 wickets for 26 runs

When you talk about T20 bowling, the conversation inevitably comes back to Lasith Malinga—the man with the sling-arm action, the master of yorkers, and the nightmare of every batter.

In 2016, Sri Lanka faced UAE in what should have been a routine encounter. Their total of 129 was modest, but Malinga ensured it was more than enough.

He struck twice in his very first over, shattering stumps with unplayable yorkers. The UAE batters simply couldn’t handle the pace and precision. Even as the game wore on, Malinga mixed in slower deliveries, keeping the batters guessing until the very end.

His 4 for 26 was vintage Malinga—a reminder that even with age and injuries catching up, his ability to deliver under pressure was unmatched. For Sri Lanka, it was reassurance that their greatest bowler could still be relied upon when it mattered most.

5. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 4/26 vs Pakistan, Dubai 2022

Match: Group Stage, August 28, 2022
Figures: 4 overs, 4 wickets for 26 runs

Few moments in cricket carry as much weight as an India vs Pakistan encounter. Every delivery feels like a final, every wicket like a trophy. For Bhuvneshwar Kumar, this was the night he etched his name in Indo-Pak folklore.

His 4 for 26 wasn’t just another bowling performance—it was a historic first: no Indian bowler had ever taken a four-wicket haul against Pakistan in T20Is until then.

He started with the biggest wicket of all—Babar Azam, undone by a sharp short ball. Later, as the death overs loomed, Bhuvneshwar returned to clean up Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah. Each dismissal carried weight, each breakthrough swung momentum India’s way.

India’s pacers accounted for all ten wickets in that game, but it was Bhuvneshwar who stood tallest, his spell the difference between victory and defeat. In the high-voltage atmosphere of Dubai, he delivered calm, control, and history.

The Common Thread: Impact Under Pressure

What makes these performances special isn’t just the wickets taken—it’s the context.

Bhuvneshwar’s 5/4 came after Kohli’s iconic century, ensuring the night belonged to India on all fronts.
Shadab’s 4/8 turned a straightforward Pakistan win into a spectacle of spin mastery.
Nabi’s 4/17 symbolized Afghanistan’s growing presence on the global stage.
Malinga’s 4/26 reminded the world of his eternal brilliance in death overs.
Bhuvneshwar’s 4/26 against Pakistan was etched into the rivalry’s proud history.

Each spell came at a crucial moment, shifting games decisively and leaving memories that outlive the scorecards.

Asia Cup 2025: Who Will Step Up?

As we approach the T20 Asia Cup 2025, the question lingers: who will produce the next unforgettable spell?

Could it be Shaheen Afridi, with his fiery new-ball bursts against India?
Or perhaps Rashid Khan, weaving webs of spin in Dubai and Sharjah?
Maybe a young talent like Noor Ahmad or Arshdeep Singh will rise to the occasion, writing their names alongside legends.

What history tells us is clear: in the glitz and glamour of T20 batting, it is often the bowlers—armed with swing, spin, or searing yorkers—who steal the show and define the tournament.

The Beauty of Bowling Brilliance

The Asia Cup T20 has given cricket fans countless thrilling moments, but these five bowling performances remain timeless gems. They remind us that in a format designed for batters, bowlers can still be match-winners, magicians, and legends.

As the 2025 edition unfolds in the UAE, keep your eyes not just on the sixes sailing into the night sky, but also on the bowlers running in with ball in hand. Because somewhere, sometime over these three weeks, another spell of brilliance will be born—one that we’ll still be talking about when the next Asia Cup comes around.

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