In T20 cricket, every run is very important, and wides can soon turn one team into the other’s nightmare. India has undergone matches in the past where the team altogether was penalized through the issue of extras and got recorded for surrendering the most wides in a single T20I.
This article highlights the number of wides bowled by India as a collective effort in T20I games. From the chaotic overs to the exaggeratedly high extra runs, these matches indicate that even a powerful team can occasionally lose their grip thereby making the game extremely exciting and expensive.
- 15 wides by India vs South Africa in Durban, 2007
The highlight of the list is India’s spectacular victory which was practically a virtual quarter-final at the ICC World T20 2007 against the host nation South Africa which was a group stage match in Durban. Despite being the winning side, the bowling attack of India was to an extent very inconsistent as they bowed down 15 wides, thus setting a record for the team at the time.
Sreesanth alone produced six extra runs, three coming from RP Singh who were the ones battling with their lines and control most of the time as India still managed to defend a lowly 153-run total under the captaincy of MS Dhoni with an astonishing win that guaranteed them a place in the semi-final.
- 16 wides by India vs South Africa in Mullanpur, 2025
The latest player on this list is the latest wide-ball mess of India against South Africa, this time occurring in the second T20I at New Chandigarh. Arshdeep Singh was the one who experienced the meltdown as he lost complete control over his lines and became the Indian left-arm quick.
The over has caused havoc with the concession of seven wides from Arshdeep; therefore, it was a very costly and unnecessary undisciplined spell that allowed South Africa to smash their way to a huge 213 runs total which is one of India’s weirdest bowling outings ever in T20 internationals.
- 16 wides by India vs West Indies in Chennai, 2018 The joint second spot brings India’s wayward bowling performance against West Indies in Chennai in 2018. India, under the lights, was asked to bowl first and their attack constantly missed their lines with some even slipping past the wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, rushing to the boundary, and adding to the confusion.
The spin trio of Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, and Yuzvendra Chahal each bowed out three wides in their four-over spells taking India’s total extras through wides to 16, which still stands as their second highest in T20Is even today.
- 17 wides by India vs Sri Lanka in Mohali, 2009 The top spot is claimed by India’s bowling performance against Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2009. After the Lankans asked to bowl first, Indian bowlers found it very difficult as Sri Lanka scored 206 runs.
Ishant Sharma, Ashish Nehra, Yuvraj Singh, and others all gradually contributed to the extras, with Ishant and Suresh Raina each sending down three wides. The 17 wides conceded by India in that match is still their highest number in T20I matches.
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