Rashid Khan surpasses Bhuvneshwar Kumar to achieve historic T20 Asia Cup milestone

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In a spectacular display of bowling prowess, Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has etched his name into the record books of the T20 Asia Cup. During a crucial clash against Bangladesh, the spin maestro surpassed Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to become the highest wicket-taker in the tournament’s history. His consistent excellence and ability to outfox batters have been a hallmark of his career, and this latest milestone further solidifies his reputation as one of the format’s most impactful bowlers.

Rashid’s record-breaking performance unfolded during the Asia Cup 2025 match against Bangladesh at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Entering the contest with 12 wickets, just one behind the record held by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rashid wasted no time in making his mark. He claimed his first wicket by cleaning up opener Saif Hassan with a low-lying googly in the seventh over of his spell.

His second and record-breaking wicket came in his final over, when he trapped Shamim Hossain LBW, forcing an unsuccessful review. This two-wicket haul for just 26 runs in his four overs pushed his tally to 14 wickets in 10 matches, giving him sole possession of the top spot. His overall T20 Asia Cup stats are an average of 18.00 and a strike rate of 11.5, with an economy rate of 6.46. Bhuvneshwar is now second on the list with 13 wickets in six matches, while other notable names like Wanindu Hasaranga, Amjad Javed and Hardik Pandya follow with 12 wickets each.

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Beyond his T20 Asia Cup record, Rashid’s career statistics showcase a truly world-class bowler. The article notes that he recently surpassed Tim Southee to become the highest wicket-taker in T20 international cricket. Having bowled 389.2 overs, the star spinner has taken a remarkable 173 wickets from 102 T20I games.

His numbers are nothing short of incredible, with an average of 13.79 and a stellar economy rate of 6.13. As a testament to his wicket-taking ability, he has taken four or more wickets in a T20I match a record 10 times, with his tally also including two five-wicket hauls. His dominance extends to his performance against specific teams as well, as he has been a consistent threat to Bangladesh, taking 24 wickets in 12 T20I matches against them at an average of 10.75 and an economy of 5.60, a feat unmatched by any other bowler against the Tigers.

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