November 7, 2024: As India gets ready for their four-match T20I series against South Africa, all eyes will be on Arshdeep Singh, who is closing in on an impressive milestone in the 20-over format. Currently sitting on 87 wickets from 56 T20I matches, Arshdeep has a chance to become India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is and the first Indian to take 100 wickets in the format.
Arshdeep’s T20I career began in 2022, making his debut against England. Since then, he has rapidly established himself as one of India’s most reliable seamers, particularly in death overs. With an economy rate of 8.28 and an impressive average over his 56 T20I matches, Arshdeep has been instrumental in India’s T20I success. Recently, he impressed in the series against Bangladesh, taking four wickets at an outstanding average of 10.00 in just two innings.
As Arshdeep gears up for the South Africa T20I series, he will be aiming to take his career tally to 100 wickets, a feat that would not only make him the first Indian bowler to achieve this but also push him to the top of India’s all-time T20I wicket-taking list.
Currently, Yuzvendra Chahal holds the title of India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, with 96 wickets at an economy rate of 8.19 from 80 matches. Arshdeep’s current tally of 87 wickets puts him just 13 wickets shy of breaking this record.
Interestingly, Hardik Pandya, India’s dynamic all-rounder, is also tied with Arshdeep on 87 wickets, having played 105 T20I matches. Hardik, who debuted in 2016, is another player eyeing the 100-wicket landmark in the near future. His recent performance against Bangladesh, where he took just one wicket in two innings, will make the upcoming series even more crucial for him to stay in the race.
While Arshdeep and Hardik chase the 100-wicket mark, Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier pacer and currently the third-highest wicket-taker in T20Is with 89 wickets, won’t be participating in this series. Bumrah has been rested for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, giving Arshdeep and Hardik a chance to close the gap on him. Bumrah’s economy rate of 6.27 from 70 T20I matches is also the best among the top Indian bowlers, but his absence opens the door for others to catch up.
The four-match T20I series against South Africa begins on November 8 at Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban, and will continue through November 15, with matches at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, SuperSport Park in Centurion, and Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
Given the opportunity in this series, both Arshdeep and Hardik will be looking to make a statement, potentially securing the 100-wicket landmark while leading India’s attack against the Proteas.
India’s T20I Squad for South Africa:
- Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma
- Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
As Arshdeep and Hardik target their milestones, it will be an exciting T20I series that could not only shape India’s preparations for future international challenges but also help in determining who will hold the crown as India’s top wicket-taker in T20Is.
