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Arshdeep Singh broke Yuzvendra Chahal’s record to become India’s highest wicket-taker in men’s T20Is.
Arshdeep Singh apologises to Yuzvendra Chahal for breaking his record (Screengrab/Instagram)
Arshdeep Singh became India’s highest wicket-taker in men’s T20Is on Wednesday in India’s dominant 7-wicket win over England in the first T20I of the five-match series at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
The left-arm pacer achieved this milestone in his 61st T20I match by dismissing openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett. While Salt was undone by a short ball from Arshdeep and the leading edge was caught by Sanju Samson in the opening over, Duckett looked to flick it over midwicket, but the leading edge was caught by cover in the pacer’s second over.
With this, Arshdeep has surpassed leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s record of 96 wickets to become India’s most successful men’s bowler in the shortest format.
Arshdeep, 25, made his T20I debut against England in July 2022 and has since established himself as one of India’s most reliable fast bowlers in the format.
On Thursday, BCCI posted a video on social media in which Arshdeep Singh apologised to Yuzvendra Chahal for breaking his record.
“It feels amazing to see my hard work paying off, and I’m thankful for the opportunity. I’ll strive to keep contributing with wickets for my country,” Arshdeep said in the video posted on Instagram.
Arshdeep also lauded Varun Chakravarthy for his three wickets in the middle overs, which helped the pacer to have a go at the English lower-order in the death overs.
“Varun has been bowling brilliantly lately. In T20Is, taking wickets in the middle overs is key. If the batsmen don’t get dismissed during that phase, they can build momentum and accelerate, making it tough to bowl in the death overs. But since Varun has joined the team, he has been taking crucial wickets in the middle overs, giving us a solid foundation for the final overs against the lower order. I hope he keeps up his impressive wicket-taking form,” he said.
After the player-of-the-match performance from Varun Chakravarthy, Abhishek Sharma’s sensational power-hitting lit up Eden Gardens. The left-hander clobbered eight sixes and five fours in his scintillating 79 off 34 balls as India chased down a modest 133-run target in 12.5 overs.
Chennai hosts the second T20I on Sunday.
(With inputs from Agencies)
