Top 3 spinners in the powerplay phase of T20Is since T20 World Cup 2024 from full-member nations — stats, and impact.
The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to kickstart from February 7. India are the defending champions, and start favourites to win another ICC title.
As the 2026 World T20 will be played in the sub-continent, spinners will play a huge role in the tournament. Hence, they will come into focus not only in the middle-overs, but may also play a part in the powerplay.
Therefore, teams will be looking to use their spinners wisely, and will be looking at their past records before throwing the ball to them in the powerplay.
So, let’s see who have been the top three spinners in the powerplay in T20Is since the last World T20.
Read More: Top 5 economical bowlers to watch out for in T20 World Cup 2026
Varun Chakravarthy (India)
India’s mystery spinner is the leading spin bowler in terms of wickets since the last World T20. He has taken 57 wickets at an average of 13.92 and strike rate of 11.20 with 2 five wicket hauls in 30 matches. Only Kuldeep Yadav has a better strike rate of 9.9 during this phase, but he has played just 13 matches. When it comes to powerplay, Varun Chakravarthy has taken 9 wickets at an average of 16.10 and strike rate of 14.00 in 21 innings. No other spinner has better average and strike rate than Chakravarthy among tweakers who have taken 9 or more wickets in powerplay since the last World T20.
What’s unique about Chakravarthy’s feat is that he just gets one over in powerplay, and makes an impression straightaway. He has picked up 9 wickets in 21 overs of powerplay or a wicket every 2 overs in powerplay. What works for Chakravarthy is his ability to move the ball both ways, and hence, he induces a mistake from the batters who struggle to read him both from his hands and off the pitch.
Read More: Bowling numbers across T20s at the 5 Indian venues of T20 WC 2026
Akeal Hosein (West Indies)
The West Indian left-arm orthodox spinner has made an impression bowling in powerplay since the 2024 World T20. Overall, he has picked up 38 wickets at an average of 22.13 and strike rate of 18.3 in 33 matches since the last World T20. But of those 38 wickets, 14 scalps have come in powerplay at an average of 28.90 and strike rate of 25.70 in 26 innings. He has bowled consistently in powerplay, delivering 60 overs out of total 116.2 overs since the 2024 World T20. It implies West Indies are dependent on Hosein in powerplay to give them a breakthrough as he bowls 2 overs on an average in powerplay. He has a good economy rate of 6.73 in powerplay. What is noticeable about Hosein is his ability to bowl tight line and length, giving no room to power-hitters to get underneath the ball and hit those big sixes.
Read More: Top 5 powerplay bowlers (part of T20 WC 2026) in T20s (including IPL) in India since 2024
Maheesh Theekshana (Sri Lanka)
The Sri Lankan off-spinner has spent half of his overs bowled since the 2024 World T20 in the powerplay itself. He has bowled 97 overs since June 2024, taking 26 wickets at an average of 28.92 and strike rate of 22.3 from 27 T20Is. Out of those 97 overs, he has bowled 50 overs in powerplay, taking 15 wickets – the most by any player – at an average of 26.7 and strike rate of 20. It implies Sri Lanka are highly dependent on Maheesh Theekshana as a strike bowler in powerplay, and he has done the job with success. He is known for his variations, change of pace, and rushing batters into playing their shots. In the sub-continental conditions, he will be more than handy. And hence, he is one of the spinners to watch out for in the 2026 World T20.
Read More: How teams have bowled phase-wise in T20Is post T20 WC 2024 (Test-playing nations)
