DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CMC):
West Indies fast bowler Jason Holder ended 2025 in record-breaking fashion by setting a new record for the most T20 wickets in a single calendar year.
The 34-year-old Barbadian finished the year with 97 wickets, eclipsing the previous record of 96 wickets held by Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan since 2018.
Holder played in 69 matches last year at an average of 21.42 at an economy rate of 8.30 runs per over.
He achieved the landmark when he picked up 2-24 against the Gulf Giants in the International League T20 on Sunday.
Naveen-ul-Haq (78), Andre Russell (76) and Andrew Tye (75) are the other seamers to pick up 75 or more T20 wickets in a calendar year.
He represented six teams throughout the year; the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, Islamabad United, Khulna Tigers, Los Angeles Knight Riders, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and the West Indies.
Holder was just as proficient with the bat, scoring 846 runs at 24.17 at a strike rate of 159.92, his best batting performance in a year.
Before 2025, Holder never had a strike rate of over 145 in any calendar year where he batted more than twice.