NEW DELHI: Arshdeep Singh has swiftly become India’s most successful T20I bowler, surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal’s 96 wickets with a two-wicket haul in the first tie of the five-match series against England in Kolkata. The left-arm pacer now holds 97 wickets in just 61 matches, a feat achieved at an average of 17.90 and an economy rate of 8.24.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra heaped praise on Arshdeep’s rapid rise, highlighting his ability to swing the ball as the key to his success. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “What makes Arshdeep Singh special? That is a big, big, big question because he has progressed very fast. He swings the ball both ways, which is not easy to do, especially in T20 cricket.”
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Chopra explained how Arshdeep uses his swing to outfox batters, citing his dismissals of Phil Salt and Ben Duckett. “He set a trap by moving the ball in, then repeatedly moved it away. Against Duckett, he bowled absolutely full. You don’t dare to bowl full if you don’t have swing, but Arshdeep has the swing.”
The cricket analyst also praised Arshdeep’s versatility. “He has variations. You cannot line him up. He uses the bouncer well, and very few bowlers are doing that in T20 cricket. He also bowls the slower bouncer and slower ones intelligently.”
Chopra believes Arshdeep’s high-arm action and ability to extract bounce make him a complete package. “Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mitchell Starc are exceptional left-arm pacers, but in T20 cricket right now, Arshdeep Singh might actually be the best.”
As Arshdeep closes in on the 100-wicket milestone, his combination of swing, smarts, and skill has set him apart as a game-changer for India in the shortest format.