During a recent T20 International series against Myanmar, left-arm spinner Sonam Yeshey from Trashigang produced a spell to remember. He took eight wickets, becoming the first player ever to do this in a T20 International. His stunning performance has not only stunned the cricketing world but also placed Bhutan firmly on the global cricket map.
The 22-year-old Sonam Yeshey bowled brilliantly in Gelephu, giving away only seven runs in four overs, as Bhutan beat Myanmar by 82 runs.
A student of Royal Thimphu College, his spell now stands as the best-ever bowling performance in T20 International cricket, surpassing the previous record held by a Malaysian player.
The incredible achievement even caught the eye of international media, with BBC Sport featuring his story.
Bhutan is currently ranked 77th in the ICC men’s T20 rankings.
For Sonam, the achievement reflects years of hard work, faith, and support from teammates and coaches.
Sonam Yeshey said, “I am proud to be part of a T20 world record. I am happy that I could help put my country’s name on the global stage, despite being one of the smaller nations. We have faced many challenges, mainly due to the lack of international-standard cricket fields, which limited our opportunities to compete internationally. Now, with a proper field in Gelephu, it has made a big difference for us.”
His performance is expected to inspire a new generation of Bhutanese cricketers.
“We have many aspiring cricketers in the country who look up to the seniors. I hope that through my achievement, I can inspire them to play even better than we do,” said Sonam.
Sonam first started playing cricket at age 12 and made his national debut at 18 against Malaysia.
Since then, he has represented Bhutan in multiple national and international matches, helping the team win one trophy and finish runner-up in another.
From Gelephu to the global stage, Sonam Yeshey’s achievement marks a new chapter for Bhutan on the international cricket scen.