Arshdeep Singh Becomes India's All-Time Leading T20I Wicket-Taker

Kolkata – Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh etched his name in Indian cricket history on Wednesday, becoming the country's all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals. The milestone came during the first T20I of the five-match series against England at the iconic Eden Gardens.

Heading into the match, Arshdeep was just one wicket shy of surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal's 96 T20I wickets. He achieved the record with a stellar opening spell, dismissing England openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett in the first and third overs, respectively.

Arshdeep reached the feat in only 61 T20Is, showcasing his consistency since his debut against England in 2022.

India’s Top T20I Wicket-Takers

1. Arshdeep Singh – 97 wickets (61 matches)
2. Yuzvendra Chahal – 96 wickets (80 matches)
3. Hardik Pandya – 91 wickets (110 matches)
4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar – 90 wickets (87 matches)
5. Jasprit Bumrah – 89 wickets (70 matches)

Match Overview

India, having won the toss and elected to bowl first, fielded a youthful and dynamic bowling line-up. Alongside Arshdeep, Hardik Pandya and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy spearheaded the pace attack, while Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, and Varun Chakaravarthy handled spin duties.

England’s lineup saw the absence of key players such as Brydon Carse, Jamie Smith, Saqib Mahmood, and Rehan Ahmed. Skipper Jos Buttler expressed optimism at the toss, stating, "Looks a good wicket. I'm sure it's going to be a good match. There will be some dew around. It's an honour to play against India in these conditions."

India Playing XI

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy

England Playing XI

Ben Duckett, Philip Salt (wk), Jos Buttler (c), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Arshdeep's remarkable rise underscores his importance in India's white-ball cricket plans. As the series progresses, the young pacer will aim to extend his record while anchoring India's bowling attack.