Arshdeep Singh creates history, becomes India's all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is

Arshdeep Singh, on Wednesday (January 22), added yet another feather to his cap as he became India's all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is. The left-arm pacer achieved the feat during the first T20I between India and England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Arshdeep Singh needed only two wickets in the game to break Yuzvendra Chahal's record of taking most T20I wickets for India. And it took him less than two overs to achieve the incredible milestone. He first dismissed Phil Salt in the very first over of the game before sending back Ben Duckett in the third over to break Chahal's record of 96 wickets.

Also Read: Mohammed Shami injured again? Here's why pacer is not playing in 1st IND vs ENG T20I

While Chahal took 80 matches to take 96 wickets, it took Arshdeep Singh only 61 games to match his tally and go past it as well. He is also the only Indian pacer to take more than 90 wickets in the shortest format of the game. He now has 97 wickets in 61 games and will be looking to become the first-ever Indian bowler to take 100 wickets in T20Is.

Most wickets by an Indian player in T20Is:

Meanwhile, the overall record for taking most wickets in T20Is is held by former New Zealand pacer Tim Southee. He brought down curtains on his illustrious career after taking 164 wickets in 126 T20Is. Rashid Khan is second on the list and is followed by Shakib Al Hasan, Ish Sodhi, and Mustafizur Rahman in the top five.

Arshdeep Singh put India in the driver's seat:

Arshdeep Singh's brilliant spell in the powerplay put India in the driver's seat in the first T20I. The pacer gave the hosts a flying start by dismissing the dangerous Phil Salt for a duck in the very first over. In his next over, he sent back Ben Duckett to reduce England to 17 for 2.

Captain Jos Buttler and Harry Brook then steadied the ship with a 48-run stand. Just when it looked like England have recovered, Varun Chakravarthy took two wickets in the 8th over to put India on the front foot once again.

He broke the stand by dismissing Harry Brook for 17 before sending back the dangerous Liam Livingstone for a duck. At the time of writing this report, England were on 69/4 in the 9th over with Buttler and Jacob Bethell in the middle. Buttler was batting on 44 while Bethell was unbeaten on 2.