Bhutan's Sonam Yeshey sets new T20I record with eight-wicket haul
Never before has a bowler picked up eight wickets in a T20, among men or women, in international matches or otherwise
ESPNcricinfo staff
29-Dec-2025 • 8 hrs ago
Sonam Yeshey became the first to record an eight-wicket haul in T20 cricket • Bhutan Cricket
Bhutan left-arm spinner Sonam Yeshey has gone where no one has before, becoming the first bowler to pick up eight wickets in a T20 match, international or otherwise.
Yeshey, 22, achieved the feat in the third T20I against Myanmar in Gelephu Mindfulness City on Friday, returning 8 for 7 from his four overs to bundle out the opposition for 45 in response to Bhutan's 127 for 9. In what has been a one-sided series, Yeshey has 12 wickets from four matches at this stage, with the final game taking place on Monday.
Only two bowlers had picked up seven-fors in men's T20 internationals prior to Yeshey's feat: Syazrul Idrus (7 for 8 for Malaysia against China in 2023) and Ali Dawood (7 for 19 for Bahrain against Bhutan in 2025). Even away from international fixtures, it has been achieved just two times, by Colin Ackermann (7 for 18 for Leicestershire against Birmingham Bears in 2019) and by Taskin Ahmed (7 for 19 for Durbar Rajshahi against Dhaka Capitals in 2025).
The best bowling figures in women's T20I (and T20) is 7 for 0, by Indonesia's Rohmalia, against Mongolia in 2024. That is one of four seven-wicket hauls in women's internationals, the others being in the names of Frederique Overdijk (7 for 3 for Netherlands against France), Alison Stocks (7 for 3 for Argentina against Peru) and by Samanthi Dunukedeniya (7 for 15 for Cyprus against Czech Republic). A further four such instances have been recorded in women's T20 matches.
Yeshey made his T20I debut in July 2022 against Malaysia and made an immediate impact, returning 3 for 16. The wickets haven't come in such a rush since: he now has 37 wickets from 34 T20Is.