As the T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, Indian legends Suresh Raina and Anil Kumble have shared their predictions for who will emerge as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. With the mega event set to kick off on February 7, 2026, in India and Sri Lanka, the focus is squarely on the bowling department that anchored India’s 2024 triumph.
Suresh Raina and Anil Kumble reveal their predictions for India’s top wicket-taker at T20 World Cup 2026
Both Suresh Raina and Anil Kumble unanimously picked Jasprit Bumrah to dominate the wicket-taking charts once again. Speaking via the Star Sports Instagram handle, the duo highlighted Bumrah’s unmatched consistency and his ability to deliver in high-pressure ‘crunch moments.’
Bumrah, currently 32 years old, enters the tournament as India’s second-highest T20I wicket-taker of all time with 106 wickets in 85 matches. His reputation is bolstered by his legendary performance in the 2024 edition, where he claimed the Player of the Tournament title after taking 15 wickets at a staggering economy of 4.17. Kumble, a master of leg-spin, noted that Bumrah’s unorthodox action and unerring accuracy make him almost impossible to handle, especially on the familiar subcontinental tracks of India and Sri Lanka.
Jasprit Bumrah
- T20I Wickets: 106
- T20I Average: 18.09
- Key Milestone: Most economical Indian bowler in T20I history.
Who could dominate with the ball at the ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup 2026? 🤔#IrfanPathan, #RobinUthappa, #SanjayBangar, #AnilKumble and more experts reveal their predictions. 👀
Comment down your predictions! ⬇️💭
ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup 2026 👉 Starts FEB 7 pic.twitter.com/gavbwDJPRf
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 26, 2026
T20 World Cup 2026: Raina’s special praise for another champion bowler
While both legends agreed on Bumrah, Suresh Raina also gave a special mention to Arshdeep Singh as a top contender for the leading wicket-taker spot. Raina pointed out that Arshdeep is now officially India’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is, having recently surpassed the 110-wicket mark (currently at 111 wickets in 74 games). Arshdeep’s knack for picking up early breakthroughs and his status as the joint-leading wicket-taker of the T20 World Cup 2024 (17 scalps) make him a formidable force. Raina emphasized that Arshdeep’s left-arm angle and ‘deadly yorkers at the death’ provide the perfect balance to Bumrah’s pace, making them the most dangerous opening pair in the tournament.
Arshdeep Singh
- T20I Wickets: 111
- T20I Average: 19.49
- Key Milestone: All-time leading T20I wicket-taker for India.
