Ish Sodhi

Leg-spin has always been a rare craft in New Zealand cricket, more often admired from a distance than produced at home. Ish Sodhi has been the exception, a right-arm leg-break bowler with a sharp googly and a willingness to toss the ball up and buy his wickets. That wicket-taking threat, sustained across all 3 formats, has made him one of New Zealand's most enduring white-ball bowlers.

Born in Ludhiana, Punjab, Sodhi moved to Auckland with his family as a young child and came through the New Zealand system under the mentorship of former international spinner Dipak Patel. He represented Northern Districts in domestic cricket from the 2012-13 season, and his performances soon earned him a New Zealand call-up. Sodhi made his Test debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong in October 2013, his T20I debut against the West Indies in July 2014, and his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in August 2015.

Test opportunities were never plentiful given New Zealand's seam-heavy attack and rotation of spin options. His Test career showed flashes of promise, but it was in white-ball cricket that Sodhi truly made his mark, featuring in New Zealand's run to the 2019 ODI World Cup final and their journey to the 2021 T20 World Cup final.

Sodhi's T20I career, in particular, has been remarkable for its longevity and consistency. Sodhi reached 150 wickets in the format in 2025 and, through the course of his career, also reached the summit of the ICC T20I bowling rankings. His performances have made him a sought-after name in franchise cricket as well, with spells in the IPL, Big Bash League, Caribbean Premier League and The Hundred.