Top 5 economical bowlers to watch out for in T20 World Cup 2026

T20 World Cup 2026 watchlist: Top five economical bowlers who can choke runs and tilt games with control and discipline.

Economy rate is the most widely used metric to assess and compare bowlers’ skills in T20 cricket. The modern generation of the shortest format has seen batters enjoying success with sheer power in the small grounds. With the T20 World Cup 2026 happening in India and Sri Lanka, the trend is likely to be followed. But that’s where the economy rate will become the X-factor.

Every bowler wants to go for as few runs as possible in this format. Even if an individual doesn’t pick up a wicket in his four-over spell, a controlled bowling performance can help the team’s progress and create pressure from the other end. This is only possible if a bowler has multiple variations in his armour and is able to change his tactics according to the situation of the game.

Read More: Top 5 powerplay bowlers (part of T20 WC 2026) in T20s (including IPL) in India since 2024

Let’s take a look at the top five economical bowlers to watch out for in T20 World Cup 2026:

Varun Chakravarthy (India)
Post the T20 World Cup 2024, Varun Chakravarthy has picked up 97 wickets in 61 T20 innings at an average of 17.55. Despite being a spinner in the modern age, he holds a superb economy rate of just 7.34 in this aspect.

During the same period, the leg-spinner is the leading wicket-taker in T20s with 69 scalps at home in 46 innings at an economy rate of 7.31. He will be the trump card for the management heading into the 2026 World Cup.

Varun Chakravarthy’s phase-wise T20 stats since Jul 2024

Chakravarthy can be useful in India’s death overs if captain Suryakumar Yadav requires. He has conceded an economy rate of only 7.47 in the last five overs of the innings since Jul 2024.  

Noor Ahmad (Afghanistan)
After the end of the previous T20 World Cup 2024, Afghanistan’s Noor Ahmad is the leading wicket-taker in the shortest format. The left-arm wrist spinner has bagged 116 wickets in 80 innings at an economy rate of just 7.45.

Noor picked up 24 wickets in the previous Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He continued the superb performance throughout the season, bowling in all three phases at an economy rate of 8.16.

Noor Ahmad’s phase-wise T20 stats since Jul 2024

It’s incredible for Noor to keep the economy under eight in all three phases of the game. CSK used him quite a few times in all phases of the game, which can be followed by Afghanistan too in the World Cup.

Read More: How teams have bowled phase-wise in T20Is post T20 WC 2024 (Test-playing nations)

Matheesha Pathirana (Sri Lanka)
Since the T20 World Cup in 2024, Matheesha Pathirana has picked up 60 T20 wickets in 45 innings. His economy of 9.33 is impressive, based on most of his overs coming at the death. Teams have used his slingy action in the last five overs to create trouble for the opposition.

In India, Pathirana picked up 13 wickets in 12 innings at a comparatively expensive economy rate of over 10. But he was vital for the CSK side in the death phase at a strike rate of just 19.31.  

Matheesha Pathirana’s phase-wise T20 stats since Jul 2024

Pathirana hasn’t bowled much in the powerplay. But his T20 strike rate of 11.60 in the death overs is equally exceptional during this period.

Read More: How teams have batted phase-wise in T20Is post T20 WC 2024 (Test-playing nations)

Jasprit Bumrah (India)
The most complete T20 bowler of the current era, Jasprit Bumrah, has picked up 36 wickets in 27 T20 innings since July 2024. He holds a superb economy rate of 7.26. And notably, India and the Mumbai Indians use him for the fifth or sixth over of the powerplay, when the pressure remains at its peak.

Out of these 36 wickets, 26 have come at home at an average of 18.92. His economy in that aspect drops to 7.10, which is a phenomenal record based on his overs in all three phases of the game.

Jasprit Bumrah’s phase-wise T20 stats since Jul 2024

It’s exceptional for Bumrah to carry an economy rate of 6.04 in the middle overs. His simple planning and not getting driven by emotion keep him ahead of others in this format.

Read More: Shivam Dube vs Tim David: Which of these power-hitters will have greater impact in T20 WC 2026?

Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga has earned massive success with 87 wickets in just 60 T20 innings since Jul 2024. He holds a good economy rate of 7.66 during this period. And the national side has used it smartly.

In India, Hasaranga has struggled a little bit in comparison. He has 11 wickets in that aspect at an economy rate of just over nine. This is where he will look to improve heading into the T20 World Cup 2026.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s phase-wise T20 stats since Jul 2024

It’s very simple for the captain: Hasaranga shouldn’t be asked to bowl in the powerplay for an economy rate of 13.50. In the last four innings, though, he had combined figures of 2-25 in four overs.

The T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 07 with India locking horns with United States of America (USA). The fixture will take place at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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