Arshdeep Singh (India)
Matches 18, Wickets 36, Average 13.5, BBI 4/9
The year that was
With all-format bowling genius Jasprit Bumrah a selective pick for T20Is given important assignments in Tests and ODIs over the last few years, Arshdeep Singh has taken to and aced in the role of India’s primary pacer in the T20I format.
His 36 scalps over the years were the second-best by an India player in Men’s T20Is just one behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 37 wickets in 2022, albeit Arshdeep’s numbers came in merely 18 games as compared to Bhuvi’s 32. He is also the third-best, with 33 scalps in 2022.
The seamer has filled in the much-needed left-arm pacer void in the shortest format for the Team in Blue, and was sensational across conditions, starring in key Indian wins at home and in West Indies, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Memorable Performance
While Bumrah is rightly remembered for his game-turning over in the Men’s T20 World Cup final, India’s triumph would’ve been impossible without Arshdeep’s stellar support. Defending 177 for the title, he partnered with Bumrah to give India the perfect start, removing South Africa skipper Aiden Markram for four. He added the wicket of Quinton de Kock to his tally in the 13th over to keep India in the hunt.
But arguably his best came in the 19th over when Arshdeep gave merely four runs to bring the asking rate up from 10 at the start of his over to 16 by the end of it. The pressure had mounted enough on David Miller to go into make-or-break mode, and the batter lost his wicket soon after, ensuring that India closed in on their second T20 World Cup title.
