Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh etched his name in history by becoming the first Indian men’s bowler to take 100 wickets in T20 internationals. The landmark came in India’s final group-stage match of the Asia Cup 2025 when he dismissed Oman batter Vinayak Shukla.
The achievement arrived in Arshdeep’s 64th T20I, making him the 25th bowler overall – and the 13th fast bowler – to join the elite 100-wicket club. For India, it adds another glorious chapter to their growing T20I legacy.
Fastest among fast bowlers by matches and balls
Arshdeep made his T20I debut in July 2022 against England and has taken just over three years to complete the milestone. His journey is the second-fastest for any pacer in terms of time span, behind Bahrain’s Rizwan Butt.
However, when measured by matches and deliveries bowled, Arshdeep is ahead of Butt, sitting only behind global spin stars Rashid Khan, Sandeep Lamichhane and Wanindu Hasaranga. His bowling average of 18.37 is also the best for a fast bowler from a Full Member nation.
Continuing India’s proud tradition
Arshdeep now joins a special list of Indian bowling pioneers. Vinoo Mankad was India’s first to 100 wickets in Tests, Kapil Dev reached the same feat in ODIs, and now Arshdeep has set the benchmark in T20Is. Among Full Member teams, only South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe are still waiting for a bowler to reach the 100 mark in this format.
Powerplay menace and death-over specialist
One of the key reasons behind Arshdeep’s rise has been his ability to strike in crucial phases. Since his debut, he has taken 43 powerplay wickets, more than any other bowler worldwide in that period. At the death, his impact is even greater – 48 wickets in the last four overs, the most by any bowler, with Pakistan’s Haris Rauf trailing behind.
Standing tall on home soil
India’s high-scoring T20I conditions haven’t dented Arshdeep’s wicket-taking ability. With 28 wickets at home, he ranks third among Indian fast bowlers, only behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar (34) and Hardik Pandya (31). His average of 21.00, however, is the best among them, underlining his consistency.
Left-handed batters have struggled the most against Arshdeep. Out of his 100 wickets, 38 are left-handers, the highest tally in this period. His powerplay average of 13.36 against southpaws is far better than against right-handers (25.37). South Africa’s Rilee Rossouw has been his biggest victim, falling three times in just five balls without scoring a run.
A proven performer in T20 World Cups
Arshdeep has also been a match-winner on the biggest stage. At the 2024 T20 World Cup, he bagged 17 wickets in eight games at an economy of 7.16, playing a crucial role in India’s title run. Two years earlier, he picked up 10 wickets in the 2022 edition, finishing as India’s leading wicket-taker.
With age on his side and a growing reputation as one of the world’s finest T20 pacers, Arshdeep Singh looks set to add many more records to his name.