Sonam Yeshey
Bhutan’s Spin Sensation Who Rewrote T20 History
“Records are great, but discipline writes the story.” — Sonam Yeshey
Cricket’s most fast‑paced format, Twenty20, has been dominated by big hitters and all‑out attacking play. But in late December 2025, in the quiet city of Gelephu, a young Bhutanese bowler flipped the script, not with thunderous pace or flamboyant sixes, but with unwavering control and guileful spin.
At just 22 years old, left‑arm orthodox spinner Sonam Yeshey became the first bowler in T20 history, men’s or women’s, domestic or international to take eight wickets in a single match. His astonishing figures of 8 wickets for just 7 runs in 4 overs against Myanmar didn’t just win the game; they redefined what a bowler can achieve in 20 overs.
In the third T20 International of a bilateral series in Gelephu, Bhutan set a total of 127/9 batting first. When Myanmar came in to chase, Yeshey’s left‑arm spin tore through their top order. By the time the innings ended, Myanmar were dismissed for just 45, and Yeshey had rattled off an unprecedented 8‑for‑7 — a record no bowler had ever etched in T20 cricket.
Before this spell, the best T20 bowling performances were seven‑wicket hauls, such as Syazrul Idrus’s 7 for 8 for Malaysia in 2023 and Ali Dawood’s 7 for 19 for Bahrain in 2025. Yeshey’s achievement now stands front and center in the history books.
Yeshey’s love for cricket began far from the spotlight. Like many players from emerging cricket nations, his earliest memories are of playing in open fields with friends, where passion took precedence over coaching. These informal games helped cultivate his instinctive feel for the sport and a deep, enduring connection to the game itself.
His career took shape when he joined a cricket academy in Gelephu, where structured training honed his technique and tactical awareness. Yeshey originally began as a pace bowler, but a coach soon noticed his natural spin and control, steering him toward slow left‑arm orthodox bowling. That guidance would prove transformational.
“I found rhythm and control as a spinner,” Yeshey reflected in a later interview. “It clicked for me, this was where I belonged.”
Yeshey’s record‑setting performance wasn’t just about skill, it was about discipline, strategy, and calm under pressure. Reports on the match highlight how tightly he bowled to his field, forcing batters into errors rather than aggressively hunting wickets. His thoughtful planning before the series and mental preparation on game day were key ingredients in a historic outcome.
Tennis‑like patience and precision paid off spectacularly as wickets tumbled. Teammates could see something remarkable unfolding; by the fifth dismissal, whispers about history began circulating on the field.
It was a moment that changed perceptions of what Bhutanese cricket can achieve on the global stage. One teammate likened the feeling to witnessing a new definition of possibility, not just for Yeshey, but for the country’s future stars.
For a nation still developing its cricketing infrastructure, Yeshey’s achievement serves as both inspiration and validation.
Despite the global attention, Yeshey remains grounded. He continues to work on variations in pace and trajectory, enhance his fitness, and contribute with bat and in the field, a testament to his all‑around commitment to growth.
Since making his T20I debut in July 2022 against Malaysia, Yeshey has consistently impressed, taking wickets regularly and flashing glimpses of his potential long before his record spell.
For young athletes in Bhutan and across associate cricket nations, Sonam Yeshey’s rise underscores a powerful truth: dedication, discipline, and belief can elevate you from neighborhood games to world‑record performances. If his journey inspires even a handful of aspiring cricketers to pursue their dreams with discipline and patience, then the impact of this historic day will be felt far beyond the statistics.