Arshdeep Singh comes out to be Indian top wicket taker in T20Is
Arshdeep Singh has come out as India's top wicket-taker in T20Is, which has been a momentous occasion for him. Here is his story, performances, and what it means for him in the long run of international cricket.
This is how Arshdeep Singh has had a phenomenal rise in the world of T20 cricket. The Indian left-arm pacer, who has gradually worked his way into an all-India T20 setup as one of the most dependable bowling acts in the shortest format of the game, reached an important mark on January 22, 2025. Against England during the first T20I played in Kolkata, Arshdeep went past Yuzvendra Chahal to become India's biggest wicket-taker in the T20 format. The wicket of Ben Duckett was Arshdeep's second one in the game, which shifted him to 97 wickets past Chahal's 96.
Arshdeep is currently an asset to India as he gifted his bowling art to all the three stages of the T20 game. There is a skill of new ball swinging and seam bowling in Arshdeep. Thus left-handed and right-handed batsman fear this cricket player. His death overs are enhanced by lethal yorkers and deceptively slower balls, making him a versatile asset in death overs. The clever use of variations and intelligent tactics makes him an indispensable bowler to break partnerships in middle overs for the Indian team.
His journey to the wicket-taking table is all the more spectacular in that he was also competing with a few of the best Indian bowling talent. All of 97 wickets come from just 61 matches. Economy of 8.24 is very impressive in relation to that held by Yuzvendra Chahal which he achieved after taking 96 wickets in 80 matches having an economy of 8.19. The list continues with other great bowlers from India: Hardik Pandya, for example, could take 91 wickets in 110 matches; Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 90 wickets in 87 matches and Jasprit Bumrah took 89 wickets in 70 matches.
Consistency in T20Is hasn't only brought this wanted record to Arshdeep's kitty but also to the nomination of the ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year award. He was phenomenal all through 2024, first as a key player in India's T20 World Cup final and later as one of the best bowlers in the game. He went on to turn out to be an extremely useful performer throughout the tournament with crucial breakthroughs and keeping the opposition in control.
One of the standout performances was the one against South Africa, and India won their first T20 World Cup finals, as they played the crucial role while still keeping the South African run rate from getting totally out of control when it seemed to get stressful. It was one of those last but one do-or-die overs where he gave only four runs, and the task actually became quite formidable for South Africa to reach that target. He had sent back big batsmen such as Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock early into the game, giving India a very important advantage. He proved that in big situations, he can step up with calm and composed performances.
Arshdeep's success at the international level is based on filling the critical left-arm pacer role in the Indian team. This has been an area India had been desperately looking for a dependable bowler for a long time. Arshdeep's ball game has been excellent, particularly since the T20 World Cup. He has taken the form from the tournament and carried it forward into the games, picking up 18 wickets, including key ones against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh.
This boy has indeed provided the team with much-needed momentum. Having great all-round match-day flexibility, Arshdeep has been the center of India's T20I strategy. Beyond being able to create more swing on the older balls in his new ball deliveries, what makes him simply un-dropable is that he does not lose composure at the death.
And on T20s, it gets even better because Arshdeep continues as India's leading man for the attack. Arshdeep's journey to the summit of being India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is is a phenomenal testimony to hard work, dedication, and the ability to deliver under the heat of pressure. One remembers the triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup. For one, he has established a stronghold for himself among the front-running fast bowlers for India in this shortest of formats. And the journey has just begun.
