Arshdeep Singh Sets New T20I Record for India: A Milestone Year

In a remarkable achievement, Arshdeep Singh has become India's leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals for the year 2026. During the second T20I against New Zealand, he surpassed Bhuvneshwar Kumar's previous record, taking his tally to 38 wickets. This milestone highlights Arshdeep's exceptional performance as he continues to make his mark in international cricket. Discover more about his journey and the match details that led to this historic moment.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 24, 2026, 16:45 IST

Arshdeep Singh Achieves T20I Milestone

Christchurch: During the second T20I match against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh reached a remarkable achievement by becoming the highest wicket-taker for India in T20 internationals within a single calendar year.

In this match, Arshdeep recorded figures of 2 for 33, bringing his total to 38 wickets in 2026. He surpassed Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had previously held the record with 37 wickets in 2022, the last year he played for India before his recent return.

This milestone further solidifies Arshdeep's impressive performance throughout the year. He claimed the wickets of Tim Seifert early on and later dismissed Glenn Phillips, contributing significantly to his record.

Arshdeep achieved his 38 wickets in just 26 innings, while Bhuvneshwar needed 31 innings for his 37 wickets in 2022. This places Arshdeep third among players from full-member nations for the most wickets in a single year, trailing only Ireland's Josh Little and Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga.

Here are the top wicket-takers in T20Is for full-member teams in a calendar year:

39 – Josh Little in 2022

38 – Wanindu Hasaranga in 2024

38 – Arshdeep Singh in 2026

37 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar in 2022

Arshdeep's early breakthroughs were crucial in restricting New Zealand to 43 for 3 at the end of the powerplay, with Bhuvneshwar and Prince Yadav also contributing wickets. He later took the vital wicket of Glenn Phillips, who scored a commendable 70 runs off 43 balls, helping New Zealand reach 180 for 5 in their innings.

After a shaky start at 41 for 3, Phillips and Bevon Jacobs (58 off 46 balls) formed a resilient partnership, adding 116 runs for the fourth wicket and aiding New Zealand's recovery in this match, which was played on the same pitch as the high-scoring first T20I.