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Gayle is the highest run-getter in T20s, whereas Rashid tops the wicket-takers list, but for ABD, Mumbai Indians star Bumrah is the greatest player of all time in T20s.
Ab de Villiers picks MI star as greatest player of all time in T20s. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Chris Gayle is the highest run-getter in T20s, and Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan holds the world record for taking the most wickets in the 20-over format of the game. But when former South African skipper and legendary batter AB de Villiers, who according to many is the greatest cricketer of all time, was asked to name his Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.) in T20s, he ignored Gayle, who he played with in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from 2011 to 2017, and Rashid, who has 702 wickets in 519 T20 matches played so far, and instead picked a Mumbai Indians star.
According to ABD, Mumbai Indians and India legend Jasprit Bumrah is the greatest of all time in the shortest format of the game.
In a video shared by sports presenter Nikhil Uttamchandani on Instagram, when asked, “Who is the T20 Greatest Of All Time?” De Villiers said, “It’s going to be a controversial… not controversial, ironic answer, because I think it’s (Jasprit) Bumrah. But not bowling to me.”
“Just his consistency. His ability to bowl at any stage of the 20 overs and take wickets under pressure with the new ball, old ball, you name it. Super over – you throw the ball to him; he wins you the game. That’s Jasprit Bumrah for you,” he added.
Here’s a look:
Since making his T20 debut in March 2013, Bumrah has played 270 matches so far and dismissed 345 batters. He is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in T20Is (121 in 95 matches) and holds the record for taking the most wickets for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL (183 in 145 matches).
Bumrah played a big role in India’s T20 World Cup title win in 2024 and also bagged the Player Of The Tournament award. In the 2026 edition of the T20 World Cup, he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker.
In the final against New Zealand, which was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8, Bumrah bowled four overs and picked up 4 wickets for 15 runs. His super show with the ball helped India bowl the Kiwis out for just 159 runs in the 256-run chase and win the final by 96 runs.
Bumrah will next be seen in action for the Mumbai Indians now in the 2026 edition of the IPL, which is set to start on March 28. In this year’s IPL, Bumrah will have a chance to become the first fast bowler in the world to take 200 wickets for one team.
March 17, 2026, 07:08 IST
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