Last Updated: October 30, 2026 08:08 PM
Milestones in T20 cricket usually belong to batters, but bowlers deserve their share. One bowler has now reached a milestone no one has reached before. We break down the details and explain why the number matters.
Arshdeep Singh Creates History Against New Zealand
Arshdeep took his 40th T20I wicket of 2026 in the fourth match against New Zealand. He took the record on October 30, 2026, when he dismissed captain Mitchell Santner.
Santner fell to the final delivery of Arshdeep’s four-over spell. The left-arm fast bowler finished with figures of 1/38 in four overs.
Why the Record Is Special
No player from a Test-playing nation had taken 40 T20I wickets in a calendar year. He did it by becoming first player from a Test-playing nation to hit that number.
Ireland’s Josh Little held the old mark with 39 wickets in 2022. Little took those 39 wickets in only 26 T20Is, which was a strong return. Arshdeep now has 40 wickets in 31 T20Is for India in 2026.
| Player | Country | Matches | Wickets | Best figures | 5W | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | India | 31 | 40 | 5/51 | 1 | 2026 |
| Josh Little | Ireland | 26 | 39 | 4/35 | 0 | 2022 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 20 | 38 | 4/15 | 0 | 2024 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India | 32 | 37 | 5/4 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | 20 | 36 | 4/9 | 0 | 2021 |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | South Africa | 22 | 36 | 4/25 | 0 | 2021 |
| Arshdeep Singh | India | 18 | 36 | 4/9 | 0 | 2024 |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | 23 | 36 | 4/30 | 0 | 2024 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | Pakistan | 26 | 36 | 5/19 | 1 | 2025 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | India | 20 | 36 | 5/24 | 1 | 2025 |
Players from smaller nations top the full world list, so context matters. Bahrain’s Ali Dawood leads with 63 wickets in 37 matches in 2025. Dawood’s total remains the best across all nations in the list.
More Milestones in the Same Match
Arshdeep also became the first Indian bowler to reach 150 T20I wickets. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel follow him on India’s list.
Santner also reached 150 T20I wickets in the same match. He became the third New Zealand bowler and the 10th worldwide to do so. Arshdeep’s best haul in 2026 was five for 51 against New Zealand, his only five-wicket haul.
What This Means for India
Arshdeep Singh creates history at a time when India values consistent wicket-takers. His record shows steady effectiveness and strong consistency in India’s T20I attack.
Fans now wonder how many more wickets he can add before the year ends. Few bowlers manage the feat of becoming first player in a major record category. We will watch whether Arshdeep Singh creates history again in future matches.
