Asia Cup 2025: forecasting the top 5 wicket-takers

The Asia Cup 2025 is set to begin on Tuesday, September 9, with the opening match taking place in Dubai. Afghanistan will face Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi to kickstart the highly anticipated tournament, which brings together the best cricket teams from across Asia.

A total of eight teams will participate in this edition, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, UAE, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Oman, and Pakistan. Fans can expect competitive matches as the continent’s top sides vie for the prestigious trophy.

This year, the Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format, providing teams with crucial preparation ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Historically, the tournament has adopted the T20 format only twice before, in 2016 and 2022, making this edition particularly exciting.

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Top Five Bowlers Likely to Dominate Asia Cup 2025:

In the T20 format, batters often grab the headlines, but bowlers will play a crucial role in determining which teams succeed in the Asia Cup 2025. Their ability to take key wickets and maintain pressure will be vital for tournament victories.

The dry conditions in Dubai are likely to favor spinners, offering them grip and turn, while patches of grass on the pitches could assist fast bowlers. Considering these factors, certain bowlers may emerge as top performers. Based on current form and conditions, here’s a prediction of the five leading wicket-takers expected to make a significant impact in the Asia Cup 2025.

• Jasprit Bumrah

One of the standout bowlers expected at Asia Cup 2025 is India’s Jasprit Bumrah. The star pacer returned to the T20I side after last playing in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he finished as India’s second-highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets. His presence adds experience and firepower to the bowling attack.

Following his recovery from injury, Bumrah featured in IPL 2025. Despite missing a few early matches, he impressed with 18 wickets in 12 games, maintaining an average of 17.55 and an economy rate of 6.67. He also took wickets in India’s recent Test series against England. Fans will be keen to see how he adapts across formats as he makes his T20I comeback in the Asia Cup.

• Varun Chakaravarthy

India’s premier spinner, Varun Chakaravarthy, is expected to be one of the leading wicket-takers at Asia Cup 2025, thanks to his consistent performances this year. He impressed in the home T20I series against England, claiming 14 wickets in just five matches at an average of 9.85, with an economy rate of 7.66.

Chakaravarthy carried his strong form into the 2025 Champions Trophy in Dubai, where he played a pivotal role in India’s title-winning campaign, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with nine wickets from three innings. He also contributed significantly in IPL 2025, taking 17 wickets in 13 matches. Likely to be preferred over Kuldeep Yadav, the 34-year-old will shoulder major bowling responsibilities for India in the Asia Cup.

• Rashid Khan

Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan is set to be a key figure at the Asia Cup 2025. Widely regarded as one of the most effective spinners in modern T20 cricket, Rashid impressed in the recent T20I Tri-Series in the UAE, taking nine wickets in four matches. His skill and consistency make him a crucial asset for his team.

With years of experience in global franchise leagues, the wrist-spinner has taken 669 wickets in 491 T20 matches, averaging 18.44 with an economy rate of 6.59, including four five-wicket hauls. In international T20Is alone, he has claimed 170 wickets from 100 games, making him a constant threat to opposition batters and a player to watch in the tournament.

• Dushmantha Chameera

Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera has been in excellent form, emerging as the top wicket-taker for his team in their recent T20I series against Zimbabwe. He claimed eight wickets in three matches, maintaining an impressive average of 10.25 and an economy rate of 6.83, with best figures of 3/19.

The 33-year-old has been a reliable performer for Sri Lanka in T20 cricket. Across 58 T20Is, Chameera has taken 63 wickets and brings extensive experience from playing franchise leagues worldwide, totaling 162 wickets in 153 T20 matches. While spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana often grab the headlines, Chameera’s pace and wicket-taking ability will be crucial for Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup 2025.

• Taskin Ahmed

Bangladesh pacer Taskin Ahmed showcased his skills in the recently concluded T20I series against the Netherlands. He emerged as the team’s top wicket-taker, claiming six wickets from two matches at an outstanding average of 8.33 and an economy rate of 6.25, underlining his effectiveness in the shortest format.

Taskin, alongside Mustafizur Rahman and Shoriful Islam, will be a key figure in Bangladesh’s pace attack for the Asia Cup 2025 if he maintains his current form. With 94 wickets from 78 T20Is and extensive experience in franchise cricket—amassing 242 wickets from 188 T20 matches—he offers both consistency and firepower, making him a valuable asset in high-pressure tournament situations.