The men's death-overs specialists every captain wants

In the frantic final five overs of a T20, when batters swing for the fences and every run feels doubled, the bowlers who can slam the brakes are worth their weight in gold. Rank men's bowlers by economy in overs 16-20 across T20 internationals and the major leagues (minimum 600 legal balls), and one name sits comfortably clear of the field.

Sunil Narine leads the way with a remarkable economy of just 6.97 at the death, the only bowler in this elite group to keep the runs below seven an over. Across 2,651 legal balls — the largest sample of anyone on the list — he has also claimed 182 wickets, proving that his miserly control does not come at the cost of penetration. In a phase where conceding fewer than eight is considered a triumph, going at under seven is genuinely otherworldly.

Behind him, Saeed Ajmal (7.15) and Wanindu Hasaranga (7.77) are the only others under eight, though both from smaller samples of 608 and 666 balls respectively. Then comes the pace of Jasprit Bumrah at 7.89 from 2,095 balls with 155 wickets, and Rashid Khan at 7.95 from 1,422 balls with 105 scalps — spin and seam alike mastering the hardest overs to bowl.

Imran Tahir (8.00), Lasith Malinga (8.03, and a hefty 176 wickets from 2,064 balls), Dale Steyn (8.06), Ravichandran Ashwin (8.12) and Mujeeb Ur Rahman (8.20) round out the top ten.

Why does a low death economy matter so much? These overs decide matches. A bowler who saves even a run an over here can turn a defendable total into a winning one, which is exactly why every captain wants a Narine at the death.