T20I Cricket matches see bowlers claiming five-wicket hauls only when nearly 500 runs are scored, a rare occurrence. Arshdeep Singh from India achieved this milestone on Saturday in Trivandrum with figures of 5/51 against New Zealand. The opposing team’s regular wickets allowed Suryakumar Yadav’s side to take control, despite Arshdeep conceding some runs.
Arshdeep’s wickets included Rachin Ravindra (30), Daryl Mitchell (26), Mitchell Santner (0), Glenn Phillips, and Kyle Jamieson. Notably, he took two wickets in back-to-back overs, which helped India secure a 46-run victory. This was Arshdeep’s first five-wicket haul in T20Is, achieved after he hit the 100-wicket mark in the format.
The left-arm pacer has shown remarkable consistency, boasting 118 wickets in 76 matches with a bowling average of 19 and a strike rate of 13. Arshdeep made a significant impact, especially since Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless while conceding over 50 runs.
This performance boosts his chances of being included in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Arshdeep’s bowling skills make him more valuable to the team compared to Harshit Rana, who, while capable of batting, lacks Arshdeep’s bowling ability.
India scored 271 runs for five wickets in their 20 overs against New Zealand, with Ishan Kishan hitting a century and Suryakumar Yadav contributing a half-century. India clinched the series 4-1, as New Zealand managed only 225 runs in reply.
