Arshdeep Singh stands on the brink of becoming India’s first-ever centurion in T20I wickets
September 10, Dubai International Stadium. India's campaign
at the Asia Cup 2025 begins against the hosts, UAE, and all eyes will be on one man, steaming in with the new ball. Arshdeep Singh, the wiry left-arm pacer from Punjab, is a single wicket away from history. One wicket — that is all that separates him from becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 100 wickets in T20 internationals.
It is a milestone no Indian fast bowler, not even Bumrah, Shami, or Bhuvneshwar Kumar, has achieved. For Arshdeep, still only 26, it could happen in the very first over of the tournament.
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India's crown jewel in T20 bowling
Since his debut in 2022, Arshdeep has been India’s quiet revolution in T20 bowling. In just 63 matches, he has taken 99 wickets at an impressive average of 18.30, striking every 13 balls. His economy rate of 8.29 in the most unpredictable format of cricket demonstrates his skill at both ends of an innings.
More importantly, he has filled a role India had long struggled to master: bowling at the death. With yorkers as precise as a surgeon’s scalpel and nerves of steel in tight finishes, Arshdeep has become the bowler India trusts when matches hang in the balance.
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Chasing the milestone
The Asia Cup opener against the UAE could mark a historic moment. If Arshdeep takes even one wicket, he will become the first Indian to surpass the 100-wicket milestone in T20Is.
To give the achievement context:
Yuzvendra Chahal, India’s leading spinner in the format, has 96 wickets from 80 matches.
Hardik Pandya, India’s top all-rounder, has 94 wickets from 114 matches.
Even a legend like Bumrah, though highly effective, has not been a regular in T20Is for long enough to come close to the mark.
Arshdeep’s swift rise is about more than just numbers; it reflects consistency across conditions from Adelaide to Ahmedabad, and now Dubai.
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The backdrop of Asia Cup history
India’s history with the Asia Cup is illustrious. Eight-time champions, they have claimed the title in 1984, 1988, 1990–91, 1995, 2010, 2016, 2018, and 2023. From Gavaskar to Dhoni to Rohit Sharma, the tournament has consistently produced heroes in blue.
Could 2025 be remembered as the edition where Arshdeep Singh joined that pantheon? Becoming the first Indian to take 100 wickets in T20Is, in a tournament opener, would provide the narrative with poetic symmetry.
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Why it matters
Milestones often conceal the hard work. Arshdeep’s journey has been one of resilience — from being trolled after dropped catches in the 2022 Asia Cup, to returning with the ball in hand to silence critics. His rise mirrors the depth of modern Indian cricket, where young bowlers no longer wait a decade to become match-winners.
And yet, this figure — 100 wickets — will be significant. It will position Arshdeep among the likes of Rashid Khan, Tim Southee, and Shakib Al Hasan, global icons who have mastered T20’s relentless pace.
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When Arshdeep Singh begins his run-up in Dubai on 10 September, it will not only mark the start of India’s Asia Cup defence but also serve as a pivotal moment for a bowler who has transformed India’s T20 attack.
