Arshdeep Singh created history during the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Auckland on Friday, becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 150 wickets in the shortest international format.
The left-arm pacer reached the landmark in the final over of his spell when he dismissed New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner for five. Arshdeep bowled a full delivery outside off stump, forcing Santner to reach for the shot. The batter sliced it towards sweeper cover, where Nitish Kumar Reddy took a well-judged catch near the boundary.
Arshdeep brought up the milestone in his 103rd T20I, further extending his lead at the top of India’s list of leading wicket-takers in the format.
He also became the fastest bowler to reach 150 T20I wickets in terms of time taken, achieving the feat in just 1,577 days since making his international debut. He surpassed Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, who took 2,325 days to reach the same landmark.
In terms of deliveries bowled, Arshdeep needed 2,143 balls to complete the milestone. He is among the quickest to the mark, behind Hasaranga (2,035 deliveries) and Rashid Khan (2,098). Ehsan Khan also reached the landmark in 2,143 deliveries.
Among fast bowlers, Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman previously held the record, having taken 2,532 deliveries to reach 150 T20I wickets.
The achievement adds to a remarkable year for Arshdeep. With 40 T20I wickets in 2026, he has become the leading wicket-taker in a calendar year among players from Full Member nations. Ireland’s Josh Little took 39 wickets in 2022, while Hasaranga claimed 38 in 2024 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up 37 in 2022.
Arshdeep’s consistency has also been reflected in his economy rate. He has been India’s leading T20I wicket-taker while maintaining an economy of 8.66.
Most T20I wickets for India
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 103 | 150 | 8.66 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 100 | 126 | 6.52 |
| Axar Patel | 116 | 116 | 7.76 |
| Hardik Pandya | 138 | 114 | 8.34 |
Arshdeep’s latest milestone further strengthens his position as one of India’s leading T20I bowlers. His ability to strike with the new ball and execute under pressure at the death has made him a key part of the team’s bowling attack.
