Kagiso Rabada Surpasses Dale Steyn in T20 World Cup Wickets

Kagiso Rabada has made headlines by surpassing Dale Steyn as South Africa's second-highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history. His remarkable performance against the West Indies, where he took 2 wickets for 22 runs, has solidified his place in cricket history. With a total of 32 wickets, Rabada is now chasing Anrich Nortje's record. The match saw South Africa's bowlers initially dominate, but a strong partnership from the West Indies turned the tide. This victory is crucial for South Africa's semifinal aspirations, especially with India also in contention. Read on for a detailed match summary and player statistics.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 26, 2026, 18:24 IST

Rabada Sets New Record

Kagiso Rabada, the South African fast bowler, has made history by surpassing the legendary Dale Steyn to become his team's second-highest wicket-taker in ICC T20 World Cup history. This milestone was achieved during a Super Eight match against the West Indies, where Rabada delivered an impressive performance, taking 2 wickets for 22 runs in four overs, significantly impacting the Caribbean batting lineup early in the game.

Wicket-Taking Stats

Currently, Rabada has accumulated 32 wickets in 28 innings, maintaining an average of 25.46, with his best bowling figures being 3 for 18. In comparison, Steyn had 30 wickets. The record for the most wickets in T20 World Cup history is held by Anrich Nortje, who has taken 37 wickets in just 20 matches, boasting an impressive average of 11.54 and three four-wicket hauls, with his best figures at 4 for 7. Bangladesh's Shakib al Hasan leads the tournament overall with 50 wickets in 43 matches, averaging 20.12, including three four-wicket performances and best figures of 4 for 9.

Rabada's Tournament Performance

In the ongoing tournament, Rabada has had a mixed performance, having gone wicketless in three previous innings but managing to secure four wickets at an average of 47.25 and an economy rate of 7.98.

Match Overview: South Africa vs West Indies

In the match, South Africa won the toss and chose to field first. Lungi Ngidi was outstanding, taking 3 wickets for 30 runs in four overs, while Rabada's 2 for 22 helped restrict the Windies to a precarious 83 for 7 early on. However, a remarkable partnership of 89 runs between Romario Shepherd, who scored 52 not out off 37 balls, and Jason Holder, who contributed 49 runs off 31 balls, propelled the West Indies to a total of 176 for 8 in their 20 overs. Marco Jansen's four-over spell, which cost 50 runs, was a significant setback for the Proteas. This victory is crucial for South Africa as it bolsters their chances of advancing to the semifinals and keeps India's hopes alive, as they are set to face Zimbabwe later today.