Arshdeep Singh On Verge Of History, One Wicket Away From Huge World Record

Arshdeep Singh is one wicket away from becoming the highest T20I wicket-taker in a calendar year.© AFP

India pacer Arshdeep Singh is one wicket away from entering an elite T20I club led by Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan. If Arshdeep picks up a wicket in the fourth T20I between India and New Zealand in Auckland on Friday, he will become the first Indian to take 150 wickets in T20Is. Only nine players have taken 150 or more wickets in T20Is, with Rashid leading the charts with 199 wickets. India lead the five-match series 3-0, and Arshdeep has picked up four wickets in the first three matches.

Arshdeep has claimed 149 wickets in 102 T20I matches at an impressive average of 20.5 and an economy rate of 8.65, including a five-wicket haul. He is currently India's leading wicket-taker in the format and ranks 10th on the all-time list, leaving him just one wicket short of the 150-wicket milestone.

Arshdeep is among the three Indian bowlers, alongside Ajit Agarkar and Jasprit Bumrah, to begin their T20I careers with a maiden over. Renowned for his death-over expertise, pinpoint yorkers and deliveries clocked at over 140 kmph, the left-arm pacer made his international debut during India's tour of England in 2022.

Arshdeep Singh recently broke the record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in T20Is in a calendar year, surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar's mark.

Arshdeep's current tally for 2026 stands at 39 wickets, two more than Bhuvneshwar's 37 scalps in 2022.

Arshdeep is also just one wicket away from becoming the highest T20I wicket-taker in a calendar year, eclipsing Joshua Little's tally of 39 wickets in 2022. Notably, many of Little's wickets came against Associate nations.

The 27-year-old, primarily a white-ball specialist, has also taken 30 or more wickets in a calendar year on two previous occasions. He claimed 33 wickets in 2022 and followed it up with 36 wickets in 2024.

Featured Video Of The Day

India Ends CWG Boxing Campaign With Record-Breaking Seven Gold Medals