T20 World Cup history: Top three wicket-takers for Ireland

The T20 World Cup 2026 is currently underway from February 7 to March 8, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Ireland, one of the most competitive Full-Member nations outside the traditional powerhouses, have built a strong reputation for upsetting bigger teams on the global stage. Over the years, they have delivered memorable performances that stunned established sides in global tournaments.

Ireland are placed in Group B alongside Australia, Sri Lanka, Oman, and Zimbabwe. The side was initially set to be led by Paul Stirling, but an untimely injury ruled him out of the tournament. In his absence, Lorcan Tucker has taken over the captaincy. The squad features promising bowling talents such as Matthew Humphreys, Mark Adair, Barry McCarthy, Gareth Delany, and Josh Little, all of whom have the ability to influence matches with their skills.

Here is a look at the top three wicket-takers for Ireland in T20 World Cup history:

Josh Little

A bustling left-arm seamer from Dublin, Josh Little made an immediate impact on his ODI debut against England in 2019, claiming 4 for 45, including the prized wicket of Eoin Morgan with a sharp bouncer. That spell briefly left the world’s No. 1-ranked side in trouble during what turned out to be a successful chase.

Little had earlier made his T20I debut in 2016 but initially balanced academic commitments alongside cricket, limiting his appearances. From 2019 onwards, he became a regular feature in Ireland’s pace attack, emerging as one of the country’s most promising seamers. In 2020, he played a pivotal role in Ireland’s T20I victory against West Indies in the Caribbean, taking 3 for 29 while defending a massive total of 208. Overall, Little has taken 85 wickets in 77 T20Is, including 19 wickets in 14 T20 World Cup matches. 

George Dockrell

Left-arm spinner George Dockrell made his international debut for Ireland in 2010, despite having bowled spin for only four years at that stage. He played a significant role in Ireland’s 2010 T20 World Cup campaign, helping them progress through the qualifiers by defeating Netherlands.

Dockrell delivered a standout spell of 3 for 16 against the West Indies and later contained England’s middle order with an economical four-over spell conceding just 19 runs. In 2022, he showcased his all-round ability by scoring a T20I half-century against Afghanistan, contributing to one of Ireland’s victories in the World Cup. Across 157 T20Is, Dockrell has claimed 91 wickets, including 16 wickets in 22 T20 World Cup matches. 

Mark Adair

Mark Adair, a tall seam-bowling allrounder from Northern Ireland, made his first-class debut for Warwickshire County Cricket Club as a teenager in 2015. He represented Ireland at various age-group levels and claimed the wicket of Marcus Trescothick as his maiden first-class scalp.

After being released by Warwickshire in 2017, Adair returned to domestic cricket with the Northern Knights and continued his development. In T20 Internationals, he has taken 142 wickets in 100 matches, underlining his value as a strike bowler. In T20 World Cups, Adair has picked up 15 wickets in 16 games.

Ireland squad for T20 World Cup 2026:

Sam Topping, Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker (Captain), Ben White, Craig Young

Ireland schedule for T20 World Cup 2026:

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

For more exclusive updates, visit BJSports to access Exclusive News that is only for you, incisive analysis, and updates, and to keep up with all of the latest information on your favorite remarkable cricket players and teams. To ensure you never miss out, join in on the fun right away!