Arshdeep Singh made history during the fourth T20I match against New Zealand in Auckland on 30 September 2026, becoming the first Indian bowler to reach the milestone of 150 wickets in T20 International cricket. The left-arm pacer achieved this remarkable feat in the final over of his bowling spell, dismissing New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner for five runs. This wicket not only marked a personal achievement for Arshdeep but also solidified his status as a leading figure in Indian cricket.

In the delivery that led to his landmark wicket, Arshdeep bowled a full delivery outside off stump, prompting Santner to attempt a shot. The batter managed to slice the ball towards sweeper cover, where Nitish Kumar Reddy executed a well-judged catch near the boundary. With this dismissal, Arshdeep completed his 150th T20I wicket in just 103 matches, further enhancing his position as India’s top wicket-taker in this format.

Rapid Ascent to the Milestone

Arshdeep Singh’s achievement is noteworthy not only for its significance but also for the speed at which he reached this milestone. He accomplished this in merely 1,577 days since making his T20I debut, marking the quickest ascent to 150 wickets by any bowler in the history of the format. He surpassed the previous record held by Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, who took 2,325 days to achieve the same number of wickets.

In terms of deliveries bowled, Arshdeep is among the fastest to reach this landmark. He took 2,143 balls to claim his 150 wickets, placing him behind only Wanindu Hasaranga (2,035), Rashid Khan (2,098), and Ehsan Khan (2,143). Among fast bowlers, the previous record was held by Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman, who required 2,532 deliveries to reach the same milestone.

This record further highlights Arshdeep’s exceptional talent and consistency as a bowler, making him a vital asset for the Indian cricket team.

Leading Wicket-Taker in 2026

The year 2026 has been particularly remarkable for Arshdeep Singh, who has taken 40 T20I wickets so far, making him the leading wicket-taker in a calendar year among players from Full Member nations. This achievement places him ahead of Ireland’s Josh Little, who took 39 wickets in 2022, and Wanindu Hasaranga, who secured 38 wickets in 2024. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also had a notable performance in 2022 with 37 wickets.

Arshdeep’s performance has been complemented by his impressive economy rate of 8.66, which showcases his ability to maintain control while taking wickets. This statistic further cements his position as India’s premier T20I wicket-taker. The following are the statistics of the leading wicket-takers for India in T20Is:

Arshdeep Singh has played 103 matches and taken 150 wickets at an economy rate of 8.66. Jasprit Bumrah follows with 126 wickets in 100 matches at an economy of 6.52, while Axar Patel has 116 wickets in 116 matches at an economy of 7.76. Hardik Pandya rounds out the list with 114 wickets in 138 matches at an economy of 8.34.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share