Star Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has taken the most wickets in T20Is for the Men in Blue, will lead India’s fast-bowling attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the second T20I against New Zealand on Saturday, October 24. Arshdeep will have the opportunity to make history in the match that is set to take place at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
The left-arm bowler from Punjab would shatter the record for the most wickets taken by an Indian in a calendar year in T20Is if he is able to dismiss at least two Kiwi hitters in the second T20I.
Indian Bowlers With Most T20I Wickets In Single Calendar Year
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 37 wickets in 32 matches (2022)
- Arshdeep Singh: 36 wickets in 18 matches (2024)
- Varun Chakaravarthy: 36 wickets in 20 matches (2025)
- Arshdeep Singh: 36 wickets in 28 matches (2026)
- Arshdeep Singh: 33 wickets in 21 matches (2022)
- Axar Patel: 32 wickets in 28 matches (2026)
In 28 T20I games for in 2026, Arshdeep has so far removed 36 batters. Bhuvneshwar holds the record for taking the most wickets for India in a single calendar year in T20Is. The right-arm bowler, who was born in Meerut, dismissed 37 batters in 32 T20Is for India in 2022.
Ali Dawood of Bahrain holds the record for the most wickets taken in T20Is in a single year. In 37 T20I matches in 2025, Ali Dawood dismissed 63 batters. Josh Little of Ireland leads the list of players from Full Member teams. In 2022, Little represented Ireland in 26 T20Is and claimed 39 wickets.
To surpass Little’s total and claim the top spot, Arshdeep needs to take four wickets. Arshdeep is only four wickets away from becoming the first Indian to take 150 wickets in the 20-over style of the game, having already claimed 146 wickets in 100 T20Is. Eight bowlers have removed 150 or more batters in T20Is thus far, but none of them is Indian.
Arshdeep has dismissed 45 batters while playing 32 T20Is for India at the home of the opponent. He will become the first Indian to take 50 T20I wickets in away games (at the opposition’s home) if he is able to capture five wickets in the second T20I.
Adil Rashid of holds the global record for the most T20I wickets taken at the opposition’s home. In the 70 T20Is that have been played in the opposition’s home, Rashid has dismissed 77 batters.