Bangladesh’s left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman has been named in Wisden’s T20 Team of the Year, recognising his exceptional performances across national and franchise T20 leagues over the past year. The accolade comes as the cricketing world prepares for the 2026 T20 World Cup, with Wisden evaluating performances from all recognised T20 matches to select its elite XI.
According to Wisden’s editorial team, Mustafizur’s consistency and economy made him stand out among bowlers who delivered at least 150 overs last year. His bowling average of 18.03 was unmatched by any peer, and only Caribbean all-rounder Jason Holder surpassed him in strike rate. Mustafizur was lauded for regularly containing runs while taking crucial wickets throughout the season.
Over the year, Mustafizur bowled 156.5 overs in 43 innings, claiming 59 wickets at an economy of 6.78 runs per over and a strike rate of 15.9 balls per wicket. His best figures of the season came as 3 wickets for 11 runs in a single match. In comparison, Holder bowled 250.2 overs, taking 97 wickets with a strike rate of 15.4 and an average of 21.42.
| Player | Matches/Inn | Overs | Wickets | Economy | Strike Rate | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mustafizur Rahman | 43 | 156.5 | 59 | 6.78 | 15.9 | 3/11 |
| Jason Holder | – | 250.2 | 97 | – | 15.4 | – |
Wisden’s Team of the Year features two specialist spinners, two pacers, and two pace-bowling all-rounders. The spin duo includes India’s Varun Chakravarthy and West Indies’ Sunil Narine, while the pace attack is led by Mustafizur and New Zealand’s Jacob Duffy. The all-rounders are Sam Curran and Jason Holder.
The opening pair comprises India’s Abhishek Sharma and England’s Phil Salt. Sharma scored 1,602 runs in 40 innings at an average of 41.07, including three centuries, maintaining a staggering strike rate of 202.01. Salt accumulated 1,575 runs in 52 innings at a strike rate of 153.35 and also served as his team’s wicketkeeper.
Middle-order contributions come from South Africa’s David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, and Australia’s Tim David. Ferreira excelled in the middle overs, striking a six every 6.6 balls and a four every 3.9 balls, while Miller maintained a strike rate above 180 across three franchise leagues (IPL, SA T20, and The Hundred), batting between positions three and seven at over 170 strike rate.
Wisden praised Mustafizur for his economical yet incisive bowling, highlighting him as one of the few bowlers capable of consistently delivering wickets and controlling runs in high-intensity T20 cricket. His inclusion in the Team of the Year cements his reputation as a world-class T20 pacer.