Did Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey Make History with an 8-Wicket Haul in T20I?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sonam Yeshey's historic 8-wicket haul in T20Is
- Impact of this achievement on Bhutanese cricket
- Comparison with prior records in T20 internationals
- Yeshey's journey in international cricket
- Significance of cricket in fostering national pride
New Delhi, Dec 28 (NationPress) Sonam Yeshey, the left-arm spinner from Bhutan, has made a remarkable mark in the world of cricket by becoming the first bowler to secure eight wickets in a T20 match, whether international or otherwise.
The 22-year-old achieved this milestone during the third T20I against Myanmar in Gelephu on Friday. Yeshey delivered an extraordinary performance, taking 8 wickets for just 7 runs in four overs, leading to Myanmar's collapse at a mere 45 runs while chasing Bhutan's total of 127 for 9.
This series has been notably one-sided, with Yeshey spearheading the attack; he has accumulated a total of 12 wickets across four matches, with the final game set for Monday.
Before Yeshey's historic achievement, the best figures in men's T20 internationals were seven-wicket hauls, accomplished on two occasions: Syazrul Idrus (7 for 8 for Malaysia against China in 2023) and Ali Dawood (7 for 19 for Bahrain against Bhutan in 2025).
In domestic cricket, only two players have recorded seven-wicket hauls—Colin Ackermann (7 for 18 for Leicestershire against Birmingham Bears in 2019) and Taskin Ahmed (7 for 19 for Durbar Rajshahi against Dhaka Capitals in 2025).
In the women's game, the record remains with Indonesia's Rohmalia, who achieved an incredible 7 for 0 against Mongolia in 2024—the best bowling figures in women's T20Is and T20s.
Other notable seven-wicket hauls in women's T20 internationals include Frederique Overdijk (7 for 3 for the Netherlands vs France), Alison Stocks (7 for 3 for Argentina vs Peru), and Samanthi Dunukedeniya (7 for 15 for Cyprus vs the Czech Republic), with a total of four additional such performances recorded in women's T20 matches overall.
Yeshey made his debut in T20Is in July 2022 against Malaysia, making an immediate impact with figures of 3 for 16. As wickets came steadily in the following years, this historic spell has boosted his tally to 37 wickets in 34 T20 internationals.