Arshdeep Singh surpasses Yuzvendra Chahal, becomes top T20I wicket-taker for India

Kolkata: Arshdeep Singh has carved his name into the annals of Cricket India by becoming the nation's leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals.

He achieved this feat by cleaning up Ben Duckett in the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.

The 25-year-old left-arm pacer reached this landmark during his 61st match, bringing his impressive tally to 97 wickets.

By surpassing spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who held the record with 96 wickets from 80 matches, Arshdeep has further solidified his reputation as a game-changer. His knack for delivering in crunch moments has made him indispensable to India's T20 setup.

The leaderboard of India’s T20I wicket-takers now features Arshdeep at the summit, followed by Chahal. Completing the top five are Bhuvneshwar Kumar (90 wickets in 87 matches), Jasprit Bumrah (89 in 70), and Hardik Pandya (89 in 110).

Arshdeep’s journey has been marked by consistency, adaptability, and an ability to thrive under pressure, making him one of the most dependable pacers in India's white-ball cricket arsenal.

Arshdeep's rising stock was also on full display at the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After being released by Punjab Kings, the pacer entered the auction with a base price of ?2 crore. Sunrisers Hyderabad showed fierce interest, bidding ?18 crore, only for Punjab to retain him using the Right to Match (RTM) card.

Known for his pinpoint yorkers and ability to crank up speeds beyond 140 km/h, Arshdeep has been a linchpin for Punjab Kings since his IPL debut in 2019. In his IPL career, he has claimed 76 wickets in 65 matches at an impressive strike rate of 17.9. His best bowling figures of 5/32 highlight his prowess as a lethal death-over specialist.

The 2024 IPL season saw him take 19 wickets, narrowly missing out on the coveted Purple Cap. His consistent performances over the years have cemented his reputation as one of the league’s most reliable bowlers.

A proven match-winner, Arshdeep has also been instrumental in India’s success in major tournaments, including the U19 World Cup (2018) and the T20 World Cup (2024).

As Arshdeep continues to dominate both domestic and international arenas, his story is a testament to perseverance, skill, and the will to rise under pressure.