Arshdeep Singh recently made history by becoming the first Indian male cricketer to claim 100 T20 International wickets. He achieved this significant milestone in just 64 matches when he brilliantly dismissed Oman’s Vinayak Shukla during India’s final group stage game of the 2025 Asia Cup. This incredible accomplishment places him among an elite group of only 25 bowlers worldwide who have surpassed the 100-wicket mark in T20Is.
Singh’s journey to this landmark has been exceptionally swift. Having made his debut against England in July 2022, he reached 100 wickets in a mere three years and 74 days. This makes him the second-fastest fast bowler globally to hit this target, trailing only Bahrain’s Rizwan Butt, who managed it in two years and 240 days.
This latest achievement adds Arshdeep Singh to India’s distinguished list of bowling pioneers. He joins legendary figures such as Vinoo Mankad, who was the first Indian to secure 100 Test wickets, and the iconic Kapil Dev, the first Indian to reach 100 ODI wickets.
Interestingly, several prominent cricket nations like South Africa, West Indies, and Zimbabwe are still awaiting a bowler to join the exclusive T20I 100-wicket club.
First Indians to Reach 100 Wickets in Each Format:
- Tests: Vinoo Mankad (in his 23rd Test match)
- ODIs: Kapil Dev (in his 77th ODI match)
- T20Is: Arshdeep Singh (in his 64th T20I match)
Arshdeep’s bowling statistics are truly remarkable, boasting an impressive average of 18.37. This stands out as the best among all seamers from Full Member nations. Globally, only Rizwan Butt and Oman’s Bilal Khan currently hold better overall averages. When considering the number of balls bowled to achieve 100 wickets, Singh ranks fourth, a testament to his efficiency, behind only Rashid Khan, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Singh has demonstrated particular effectiveness against left-handed batters throughout his T20I career. He has dismissed seven different batters three or more times, with four of these being top-order left-handers. His record against Rilee Rossouw is especially noteworthy, having dismissed him three times in just five balls without conceding a single run.
The 2024 T20 World Cup marked Singh’s most successful tournament performance to date. He captured 17 wickets across eight innings, maintaining an excellent economy rate of 7.16 and an average of 12.64. His death bowling was particularly outstanding, as he claimed nine wickets in the final overs, a joint-leading performance in the tournament. Furthermore, in the 2022 T20 World Cup, he was India’s highest wicket-taker with ten dismissals, highlighting his consistent impact in both World Cup editions he has participated in.