Arshdeep Singh Sets New T20I Record for India Against New Zealand

In a thrilling match against New Zealand, Arshdeep Singh made history by becoming India's top wicket-taker in T20 internationals for a calendar year. With 38 wickets in 2026, he surpassed Bhuvneshwar Kumar's previous record. Arshdeep's performance included key wickets that helped India restrict New Zealand's scoring. This article delves into his remarkable achievement and the match highlights, showcasing his impact on the game.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 24, 2026, 16:46 IST

Arshdeep Singh Achieves T20I Milestone

File image of Indian cricketer Arshdeep Singh(Photo: @veersaa007/X)

Christchurch, Oct 24: In a remarkable performance during the second T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Indian left-arm bowler Arshdeep Singh reached a significant career milestone, becoming the leading 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. This achievement allowed him to surpass Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had previously held the record with 37 wickets in 2022, the last year he played for India before his recent return.

Arshdeep's impressive performance this year has solidified his reputation in the T20 format. He claimed the wickets of Tim Seifert early in the innings and later dismissed Glenn Phillips, who had been a key player for New Zealand.

To achieve his 38 wickets, Arshdeep needed just 26 innings, while Bhuvneshwar took 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 with wickets. He later took the vital wicket of Glenn Phillips, who scored a commendable 70 runs off 43 balls, helping New Zealand reach a total of 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, which was instrumental in New Zealand's recovery during this match, played on the same pitch as the high-scoring first T20I.