Wellington: India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh equalled a major T20 International record after taking one wicket in the third T20I against New Zealand at Hnry Stadium on Tuesday, October 27. His dismissal of Tim Seifert took his tally to 39 wickets in 30 T20Is in 2026, matching Ireland pacer Josh Little’s record of 39 wickets in a calendar year among bowlers representing Full Member nations.
Arshdeep returned figures of one wicket for 33 runs in four overs as New Zealand posted 198/3 in their 20 overs. India subsequently chased down the target in just 13.2 overs, winning by six wickets and taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Arshdeep matches Josh Little’s record
Arshdeep reached the milestone with the early wicket of New Zealand opener Seifert, who was dismissed for two runs off six deliveries. The breakthrough helped India make an early impact with the ball and brought the Indian left-arm pacer level with Little’s benchmark, established while playing for Ireland in 2022.
The achievement adds to an impressive year for Arshdeep, who had already become India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is in a calendar year during the second match of the series. His 38 wickets in that game surpassed the previous Indian record of 37, set by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in 2022. The wicket in Wellington took Arshdeep’s annual tally to 39.
Arshdeep has also established himself as one of India’s leading bowlers in the shortest international format. His ability to take early wickets and contribute during different phases of an innings has made him a key part of the national team’s bowling attack.
Abhishek Sharma powers India to a historic chase
While Arshdeep’s record was a major talking point, India’s victory was driven by an extraordinary batting display from Abhishek Sharma. The left-handed opener smashed 113 runs off just 38 deliveries, reaching his century in 35 balls and giving New Zealand’s bowlers little opportunity to recover.
Abhishek’s innings included nine fours and 11 sixes. He raced to his half-century in just 15 balls before continuing his assault to register his fourth T20I century. His strike rate of nearly 300 underlined the pace at which India dismantled the target.
The opener received outstanding support from 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 45 off 19 balls. The pair added 133 runs for the opening wicket in a blistering partnership that effectively decided the contest before the innings reached its halfway stage.
India reached 118 without losing a wicket during the six-over powerplay, setting a new record for the highest powerplay total in men’s T20I cricket. The team also reached 100 runs inside the first five overs, reflecting the extraordinary scoring rate maintained by the two openers.
New Zealand’s 198 proves insufficient
Earlier, New Zealand had put together a competitive total of 198/3 after being asked to bat. Daryl Mitchell led the home side with an unbeaten 89 off 52 balls, while Finn Allen contributed 40 from 25 deliveries and Bevon Jacobs remained not out on 39 off 23 balls.
Arshdeep’s early strike removed Seifert, but New Zealand recovered through partnerships in the middle and latter stages of the innings. India’s bowlers were unable to prevent the hosts from approaching the 200-run mark, leaving the visitors with a challenging chase.
However, Abhishek and Sooryavanshi turned the chase into a one-sided contest. After Sooryavanshi departed for 45, Abhishek continued to dominate before being dismissed for 113. India completed the chase at 199/4 in 13.2 overs, with 40 deliveries remaining.
India seal the series in Wellington
The victory gave India a 3-0 lead in the five-match series, confirming the series win with two matches still to play. It also continued India’s strong record in T20I series against New Zealand on New Zealand soil.
For Arshdeep, the match brought a landmark achievement in a year in which he has consistently added to India’s wicket tally. For Abhishek, the century and record-breaking powerplay highlighted the team’s attacking approach at the top of the order.
India will now look to carry that momentum into the remaining fixtures, while Arshdeep has an opportunity to move beyond the shared calendar-year record and establish a new benchmark among Full Member nation bowlers.