Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner Rashid Khan believes he has a strong chance of becoming the first bowler to claim 1000 wickets in T20 cricket. The 26-year-old recently surpassed the legendary Dwayne Bravo to become the all-time leading wicket-taker in the format. He achieved this milestone while playing for MI Cape Town against Paarl Royals in the SA20 2025 match at St George’s Park, Gqeberha.
Rashid has been a dominant force in T20s, having picked up 633 wickets in 461 matches. His impressive record includes 16 four-wicket hauls and four five-wicket hauls. Under his leadership, MI Cape Town secured their first-ever final appearance in SA20, making a remarkable turnaround after finishing last in both the 2023 and 2024 editions. On February 8, they will face Sunrisers Eastern Cape, who are aiming for their third consecutive SA20 title.
Rashid Khan expressed his ambition of reaching the remarkable milestone of 1000 T20 wickets, emphasizing the significance of the achievement. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, he stated that if he remains fit and continues to perform at his current level, he believes he can reach the four-digit mark in the next few years. “Reaching 1000 wickets is a huge goal for me. It would be an incredible milestone, something truly special. Just imagining having four digits in my wicket tally is an exciting thought,” Rashid said.
He went on to say, “Reaching that milestone would be absolutely surreal.. But for that to happen, fitness is key. If I can maintain my current form and play consistently over the next three to four years, I genuinely believe I can get there.”
Rashid is also closing in on another milestone in T20 internationals. He is just four wickets away from surpassing Tim Southee’s record for the most T20I wickets. Southee currently leads the charts with 164 wickets, while Rashid follows closely with 161 scalps from 91 matches at an impressive economy rate of 6.08.
Additionally, Rashid holds the record for being the fastest bowler to reach 100 T20I wickets, a feat he accomplished in the 2021 T20 World Cup against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. With his current form and relentless pursuit of excellence, Rashid Khan continues to cement his legacy as one of the greatest T20 bowlers of all time.