Arshdeep Singh Makes History: First Indian Bowler to Claim 150 T20I Wickets
Arshdeep Singh makes history as the first Indian bowler to claim 150 T20I wickets during India's clash against New Zealand in Auckland.
In a stunning display of precision and persistence, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has etched his name into the record books. During the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland, Arshdeep became the first Indian bowler to reach the monumental milestone of 150 wickets in T20 Internationals.
The historic moment arrived in the penultimate over of the match when Arshdeep dismissed the New Zealand captain, Mitchell Santner, sealing his place in cricket history. This achievement marks a significant leap for the pacer, who now stands as one of the most lethal weapons in the shortest format of the game.
A Statistical Masterclass
Arshdeep's journey to 150 wickets has been characterized by consistency and efficiency. Over the course of 103 matches and 99 innings, he has maintained an impressive average of 20.62 and an economy rate of 8.65. His career-best figures of 5/51 further highlight his ability to dismantle batting lineups.
With this feat, Arshdeep has climbed to the ninth position among the leading wicket-takers in T20I cricket globally. More impressively, he has broken into an elite group of fast bowlers; he is only the third pacer to ever reach 150 wickets in the format, joining New Zealand's Tim Southee and Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman. This is particularly notable given that the top of the T20I wicket-taking charts is typically dominated by spin bowlers, with Afghanistan's Rashid Khan leading the way as the only bowler to cross the 200-wicket threshold.
Breaking Calendar Year and Speed Records
The Auckland match wasn't the only source of celebration for the Indian pacer. Arshdeep has also set a new benchmark for the most T20I wickets taken by a bowler from a Full Member nation within a single calendar year. In 2026, he claimed 40 wickets, surpassing the previous record of 39 set by Ireland's Josh Little in 2022. He now leads a prestigious list that includes Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga (38 in 2024) and teammate Bhuvneshwar Kumar (37 in 2022).
Furthermore, Arshdeep has proven to be one of the fastest to reach this milestone in terms of deliveries bowled. It took him 2,143 balls to reach 150 wickets, making him the third-fastest bowler to do so, trailing only Wanindu Hasaranga (2,035 balls) and Rashid Khan (2,098 balls).
Match Context: A Tough Day at Eden Park
Despite Arshdeep's individual brilliance, the match presented a steep challenge for the Indian side. New Zealand's Glenn Phillips played a blistering knock, smashing 107 runs off just 49 deliveries. His explosive batting propelled the hosts to a formidable total of 260 runs.
Arshdeep finished his four-over spell with figures of 1/38. While the total score was high, he was the most economical among the Indian bowlers who completed their full quota of four overs.
India enters the final stages of the match with a strong psychological advantage, having already secured a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. The team now aims to overcome the daunting target of 260 to extend their lead to 4-0.