Top 10 Wicket Takers in MLC 2026: Leading Bowlers

Season 4 of Major League Cricket (MLC 2026) has reached its final and most important stage. This year, on the American grounds, while on one hand the batsmen rained fours and sixes, on the other hand, the bowlers also turned the tables of the matches with their speed, swing, and excellent spin. In T20 cricket, the entire focus is often on the batsmen, but the truth is that the team with the most solid bowling attack wins the tournament. This season has seen some top-class international and domestic bowlers who have taken on the challenge of big batting line-ups. If you're a cricket fan or looking for the best players for your fantasy team, this list is crucial. Let's take a look at the top 10 bowlers who caused the most damage in MLC 2026.

MLC 2026: Top 10 Wicket Takers Leaderboard

Player-Wise Deep Analysis: Detailed Review of Bowlers

1. Ottniel Baartman (Seattle Orcas)

This season has been nothing short of a dream for South Africa's right-arm medium-fast bowler Ottniel Baartman. Seattle Orcas aren't the only ones to be caught off guard, however, by Bartman's archery. He took 18 wickets in 9 matches to finish first on the leaderboard. His biggest weapon has been his line and length, which has allowed him to deny batsmen free rein in the death overs. His bowling average of 13.72 clearly shows how deadly he has proved to be this season.

2. Andre Russell (LA Knight Riders)

'Dre Russ' is known the world over for his destructive batting, but in MLC 2026 he showed that he is a complete all-rounder. Playing for Los Angeles Knight Riders, he took 18 wickets in 9 innings. Russell often bowled aggressively in the middle and death overs and gave his team breakthroughs at crucial moments. His short-pitch deliveries and slow cutters proved to be a big blow to batting line-ups this season.

3. Matthew Short (SF Unicorns)

San Francisco Unicorns captain Matthew Short has emerged as a surprise package this season. Despite being a batsman-all-rounder, he dominated the entire tournament with his off-spin bowling. He has taken 16 wickets in 10 matches, and the most surprising thing is his bowling average (12.06) and his excellent economy rate. He often comes to bowl in the powerplay and sends the opposition's top order to the pavilion early on.

4. Marcus Stoinis (Seattle Orcas)

Australia's star all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been terrific with the ball for the Seattle Orcas this year. He took 16 wickets in just 9 matches, including a crucial match-winning 5-wicket haul. Stoinis' bowling average (10.69) is the best among the top bowlers this season. He forces batsmen into mistakes with his cleverness and pace variations.

5. Jasdeep Singh (Washington Freedom)

USA's local domestic star Jasdeep Singh showed this year that American players are second to none. Playing for the Washington Freedom, he took 16 wickets in 10 matches. He also took full advantage of the local conditions and troubled top international batsmen by achieving swing with the new ball. His inclusion in the top 5 on this list is a very good sign for the future of USA cricket.

6. Sunil Narine (LA Knight Riders)

If any bowler deserves to be called a 'mystery spinner' in T20 cricket, it's Sunil Narine. This season, Narine showed why he's unbeatable. He took 14 wickets in nine matches, but his biggest achievement was his economy rate of just 4.66. This means he kept the batsmen completely confined in his four overs, giving them no chance to score.

7. Haris Rauf (SF Unicorns)

Pakistan's pace spearhead Haris Rauf is renowned for his speed and aggression. Playing for the San Francisco Unicorns, he took 13 wickets in 10 matches this season. Rauf made excellent use of his high-speed yorkers and bouncers in the death overs. While he may have been a bit expensive (8.20 economy), his biggest strength has been his ability to take wickets at crucial moments.

8. Lockie Ferguson (Washington Freedom)

New Zealand express fast bowler Lockie Ferguson leads the Washington Freedom bowling attack. He has picked up 12 wickets in 9 games. Ferguson's 145+ km/h speed and sharp bouncers have kept batsmen on the back foot. His experience in playoff matches will be of great importance to the Washington Freedom.

9. Saurabh Netravalkar (Washington Freedom)

Software engineer and USA cricket superstar Saurabh Netravalkar was in demand this year as well. The left-arm fast bowler took 12 wickets in 10 matches for the Washington Freedom. His strengths are his sharp angle and his ability to swing the new ball both ways. He bowled very disciplined in the powerplay and gave his team solid starts.

10. Jason Holder (LA Knight Riders)

West Indies' veteran and experienced all-rounder Jason Holder takes the 10th spot on this list. He took 11 wickets playing for the LA Knight Riders. Holder has displayed excellent bowling in previous matches, especially against the San Francisco Unicorns, where he changed the course of the match by taking 4 wickets. His height and bounce always make it difficult for the batsmen.

With the league stage of MLC 2026 over, the focus is now on the playoffs. Of the top 10 bowlers on this list, most of them are part of playoff-playing teams (SF Unicorns, LAKR, Washington Freedom, MI New York). This means the bowling standard is going to be quite high in the upcoming matches. The match between San Francisco's Matthew Short and Haris Rauf versus LAKR's Andre Russell and Sunil Narine will be worth watching.