How Many Wickets Constitute a Double Hat-Trick in Cricket?

A hat-trick, which occurs when a bowler takes three wickets in three consecutive balls, is well known to cricket fans. But do you know what a double hat-trick is and how many wickets constitute a double hat-trick in cricket? In this article, you will get all your answers regarding double hat-tricks and prominent bowlers who achieved this rare feat.

How Many Wickets Constitute a Double Hat-trick?

When a bowler takes four wickets in four consecutive deliveries, it is called a double hat-trick in cricket. A double hat-trick is an extremely uncommon achievement that demonstrates a bowler’s skill and focus. The term “double hat trick” is frequently used to refer to this exceptional bowling achievement, even though it is not formally defined in cricket rulebooks.

A typical hat-trick, on the other hand, consists of three consecutive wickets in three legal deliveries. Recall that while a hat trick in cricket is a highly esteemed accomplishment that demonstrates talent, accuracy, and mental toughness, a double hat trick is an even more remarkable achievement.

In short,

Hat-trick: 3 wickets in 3 balls.
Double hat-trick: 4 wickets in 4 balls.

What count in double hat-trick: Bowled, LBW, caught, stumped, run out (by the bowler’s action), and hit wicket

What’s not to count: No-ball or wide and run-outs caused by fielders

Lasith Malinga—The Master of Double Hat-trick

Lasith Malinga was the first ever bowler who took a double hat trick in cricket history. He dismissed Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, and Makhaya Ntini on consecutive balls in the 2007 ODI world cup in a match against South Africa. Malinga is also the first bowler to accomplish this feat twice (once in ODI and the other in T20).

During the T20 international match against New Zealand in 2019, Lasith Malinga achieved a remarkable double hat-trick by taking out Colin Munro, Hamish Rutherford, Colin de Grandhomme, and Ross Taylor in four consecutive deliveries.

Malinga’s nerve-jangling bowling attack claimed the lives of four batsmen: Shaun Pollock, Andrew Hall, Jacques Kallis, and Makhaya Ntini. However, in this thrilling and hard-fought match, South Africa ultimately emerged victorious, avoiding the label of “chokers.”

Who Takes Double Hat-tricks in Cricket?

Six bowlers have achieved the rare feat of double hat-tricks in cricket: Lasith Malinga, Rashid Khan, Curtis Campher, Jason Holder, and Waseem Yaqoob. Among them, Lasith Malinga is the first and only player who has achieved this feat twice; once in an ODI against South Africa and once in a T20I against New Zealand.

List of Bowlers with Double Hat-trick in Cricket:

Player	Year	Format	Against
Lasith Malinga	2007, 2019	ODI W.C., T20 International	S. Africa, New Zealand
Rashid Khan	2019	T20 International	Ireland
Curtis Campher	2021	T20 International	Netherlands
Jason Holder	2022	T20 International	England
Waseem Yaqoob	2024	T20 International	Mali
Hernan Fennell	2024	T20 International	Cayman Islands

Rashid Khan – Afghanistan

Year: 2019
Against: Ireland
Format: T20I
Total Wickets: 5

In Dehradun on February 24, 2019, Rashid Khan claimed five wickets for twenty-seven runs, including a double hat trick. In the eighteenth over, he removed Kevin O’Brien (caught), George Dockrell (LBW), Shane Getkate (bowled), and Simi Singh (caught), taking four wickets in a row.

It must be noted that the Afghan player is the only spinner in the list of double hat-tricks and the first Afghan to take 4 in 4 in T20Is.

Lasith Malinga – Sri Lanka

Year: 2007, 2019
Against: New Zealand
Format: T20I
Total Wickets: 5

In Pallekele on September 6, 2019, Malinga bowled Munro, Rutherford, de Grandhomme, and Taylor in the third over, destroying New Zealand’s top order with a four-in-four. In 4 overs, he finished with 5 for 6. Malinga, the most wicket-taking bowler in Test cricket, achieved his second career four-in-four against South Africa in the 2007 ODI World Cup.

Curtis Campher – Ireland

Year: 2021
Against: Netherlands
Format: T20 World Cup
Total Wickets: 4

In the 10th over on October 18, 2021, in Abu Dhabi, Curtis Campher dismissed Ackermann (LBW), ten Doeschate (bowled), Edwards (bowled), and van der Merwe (caught) with 4 wickets in 4 balls. In Ireland’s T20 World Cup group match, he finished with 4 for 26 and assisted in bowling out the Netherlands for 106.

Jason Holder – West Indies

Year: 2022
Against: England
Format: T20I
Total Wickets: 5

Holder took 4 in 4 in the last over at Bridgetown on January 30, 2022, including Jordan (caught), Billings (caught), Rashid (bowled), and Mahmood (bowled) to complete the T20I series. West Indies won the series 3–2 and by 17 runs after he recorded figures of 5 for 27 and England was bowled out for 162.

Waseem Yaqoob – Lesotho

Year: 2024
Against: Mali
Format: T20I
Total Wickets: 4

With four wickets in four balls against Mali in 2024, Waseem Yaqoob became the first player from Lesotho to record a double hat-trick in Twenty20 Internationals. Match reports verified the accomplishment during a low-scoring match, despite the lack of complete delivery-by-delivery records. Mali was bowled out for less than 50 runs thanks in large part to his spell.

Hernán Fennell – Argentina

Year: 2024
Against: Cayman Islands
Format: T20I
Total Wickets: 4

Hernán Fennell made history against the Cayman Islands in December 2024 by claiming four wickets in four deliveries. Argentina was able to dominate the game because of his wickets, which destroyed the lower order. Fennell became one of the very few players in the format to achieve the first-ever double hat trick for Argentina in T20 Internationals.

Double Hat Trick Mein Kitne Wickets Hote Hain?

क्रिकेट में डबल हैट्रिक का मतलब होता है लगातार चार गेंदों पर चार विकेट लेना। जहाँ सामान्य हैट्रिक में कोई गेंदबाज़ लगातार तीन विकेट लेता है, वहीं डबल हैट्रिक में चार विकेट लगातार लिए जाते हैं। डबल हैट्रिक बेहद दुर्लभ मानी जाती है, खासकर टी20 और वनडे मैचों में, एक बड़ी उपलब्धि के रूप में मान्यता दी जाती है।