Auckland (New Zealand): India pacer Arshdeep Singh created history on Friday by becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 150 wickets in T20 Internationals, achieving the milestone during the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland.
The left-arm fast bowler reached the landmark after dismissing New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner in the penultimate over of the innings.
Arshdeep has now taken 150 wickets in 103 T20I appearances and 99 innings at an average of 20.62 and an economy rate of 8.65. His best bowling figures in the format are 5/51.
With the achievement, the Indian pacer moved to ninth place on the list of leading wicket-takers in T20I cricket.
He also became only the third fast bowler to claim at least 150 wickets in the format, joining New Zealand’s Tim Southee and Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan leads the all-time T20I wicket-takers’ list with 200 wickets and remains the only bowler to have reached the double-century milestone in the format.
Arshdeep also set a new record for the most T20I wickets in a calendar year by a bowler representing a Full Member nation.
With 40 wickets in 2026, he surpassed Ireland’s Josh Little, who claimed 39 wickets in 2022. Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, with 38 wickets in 2024, and India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who took 37 wickets in 2022, complete the top four.
The Indian pacer also became the third-fastest bowler to reach 150 T20I wickets in terms of deliveries bowled, achieving the milestone in 2,143 balls.
Only Hasaranga, who reached the mark in 2,035 deliveries, and Rashid Khan, who took 2,098 balls, achieved the feat faster.
Arshdeep finished his four-over spell with figures of 1/38, conceding the fewest runs among bowlers who completed their full quota of overs.
Meanwhile, New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips struck a blistering 107 off 49 deliveries to power the hosts to a formidable total, setting India a target of 260 runs.
Having already secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, India will aim to extend their winning streak and take a 4-0 advantage despite facing a challenging run chase.
[DD news]