NEW DELHI: India’s rising pace star Arshdeep Singh is closing in on a major T20I milestone held by swing master Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Known for his ability to move the ball both ways, Bhuvneshwar set a high bar in 2022 by claiming 37 wickets in a single calendar year — the most by any Indian bowler in T20Is.
His impressive haul included a standout 5/4 spell against Afghanistan during the Super Four stage of the 2022 Men’s T20 Asia Cup, further stressing his reputation as a game-changer in limited-overs cricket.
Arshdeep Singh, who has swiftly risen through the ranks with his knack for taking key wickets under pressure, nearly matched Bhuvneshwar’s record in 2022, finishing just four short with 33 wickets at an average of 18.12 and economy rate of 8.17.
This year, Arshdeep has another chance to set a new benchmark, and he’s closer than ever. In 2024, he has already taken 28 wickets in just 14 matches, averaging a solid economy rate of 7.14.
His recent spell of 4-0-9-4 against the USA in the T20 World Cup was crucial to India’s triumphant run in the tournament, where he emerged as the leading wicket-taker.
With just ten wickets separating him from Bhuvneshwar’s record, Arshdeep heads into the upcoming T20I series against South Africa with momentum on his side.
The series, starting on November 8 in Durban, offers him the perfect stage to cement his legacy.
India’s T20 squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is already in South Africa, gearing up for a four-match showdown. Under the guidance of VVS Laxman, the team has been bonding and acclimatizing to local conditions.
Meanwhile, the Test squad, with Gautam Gambhir at the helm, is preparing for the Border Gavaskar Trophy clash in Australia.