Afghanistan spin wizard Rashid Khan created history during his team’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Monday (February 16).
Rashid Khan has now completed 700 wickets in T20 cricket and has once again established himself as one of the most dangerous bowlers in the world. The superstar leg spinner did not get any wicket in his first three overs. But he struck gold in the 16th over.
Rashid Khan has become the first bowler to score 700 runs in T-20.
UAE batsman Muhammad Arfan lost his wicket in a strange manner and that one success took Rashid to the magical figure of 700 wickets. He took 1 wicket for 24 runs in his four overs.
With this wicket, Rashid has become the first bowler to complete 700 wickets in the shortest format of the game, adding another golden chapter to his already bright career.
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The journey to record-breaking milestones in T20s began with Australia’s Dirk Nannes, who was the first bowler to reach 100 wickets in 2010 and later 200 wickets in 2012.
After this, West Indies legend Dwayne Bravo dominated this format. He became the first player to reach 300 wickets in 2016, 400 wickets in 2017, 500 wickets in 2020 and 600 wickets in 2022. Bravo ruled the T20 bowling records for many years.
Rashid Khan became the first bowler to complete 700 wickets in T20.
First bowler in T20
100 wickets = Dirk Nannes (2010)
200 wickets = Dirk Nannes (2012)
300 wickets = DJ Bravo (2016)
400 wickets = DJ Bravo (2017)
500 wickets = DJ Bravo (2020)
600 wickets =… pic.twitter.com/KhfIg3xDtQ– Cricketgully (@thecricketgully) 16 February 2026
Rashid’s T20 empire grows with every outing
Rashid has been the heartbeat of Afghanistan’s bowling attack since his debut in 2015. He has played 518 T20 matches around the world and has taken 700 wickets at an average under 20 and an economy rate under 7. He has taken four wickets 18 times and five wickets 4 times in T20.
In T20 International, Rashid has so far taken 191 wickets in just 114 matches at an excellent average of 13.77. No other bowler has more T20I wickets than him. Now, the Afghanistan captain is just 10 wickets away from becoming the first cricketer to reach 200 wickets in T20Is.
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Rashid has also made a big impact in franchise leagues around the world, especially in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he has taken 158 wickets in 136 matches.
Rashid Khan’s Afghan team is struggling to stay in Group D
Meanwhile, the ongoing Group D match in Delhi in the T20 World Cup 2026 is very important for both the teams. Its outcome will decide the fate of UAE and Afghanistan. Rashid Khan’s team is in big trouble. They have not been able to win a single match in this tournament yet.
First they lost to New Zealand by five wickets. They then suffered a heartbreaking defeat against South Africa after two Super Overs, losing by just four runs. Those consecutive defeats have pushed them far back in the ongoing showpiece event.
At the same time, UAE is in a slightly better position. They lost their first match to New Zealand but made a strong comeback by defeating Canada by five wickets. That win has kept their Super 8 hopes alive and kept them above Afghanistan in the points table.
Now the pressure is completely on Rashid Khan and his team. If Afghanistan loses against UAE, they will officially be out of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. For UAE, a win would almost guarantee their place in the race for the Super 8s. Therefore, it is a do or die battle for Afghanistan.
