The cricketing world has bid farewell to one of its modern greats. Mitchell Starc, Australia’s thunderbolt, has officially retired from T20 internationals.
A name that has echoed through white-ball cricket for over a decade, Starc leaves behind a legacy etched with fiery spells, toe-crushing yorkers, and match-winning brilliance.
But as the curtain falls on Starc’s T20I career, a new chapter begins – not in Australia, but in India.
Enter Arshdeep Singh – the 26-year-old left-arm pacer who has, quietly and confidently, not only filled the shoes of Starc but may already be walking a path that exceeds the Australian’s legendary standards.
The Numbers Don’t Lie – Arshdeep vs Starc
Mitchell Starc’s final T20I numbers are impressive:
79 wickets in 65 matches over a span of 12 years.
Arshdeep Singh’s Numbers:
99 wickets in just 63 matches, and he’s done it in three years.
Let that sink in. Arshdeep has played fewer matches and already taken 25% more wickets than Starc did in his entire T20I career.
In a game increasingly driven by stats, these aren’t just numbers – they’re signals of a changing guard.
While Starc boasts a marginally better economy rate – a product of his early-career dominance – Arshdeep edges him out convincingly in average and strike rate. On average, Arshdeep needs five fewer balls to take a wicket, making him a more effective wicket-taker per over.
That difference, over a 4-over spell, could be match-defining.
Big-Match Player? The Impact in Wins and Losses
One of the most telling signs of a great bowler is how they perform in high-pressure, match-winning scenarios.
In matches won by their teams:
- Starc: 55 wickets at 19.89 avg, 7.34 economy
- Arshdeep: 83 wickets at 16.09 avg, 7.96 economy
In matches lost:
- Starc: 21 wickets at 35.09 avg, 8.67 economy
- Arshdeep: 11 wickets at 38.36 avg, 9.66 economy
The pattern is clear both bowlers shine when their team is winning. While Arshdeep’s economy in losses is slightly higher, his strike rate and match-winning impact in victories already rival or surpass Starc’s peak.
A Seamless Succession
The timing couldn’t be more poetic. Just as the cricket world adjusts to life without Starc’s deadly inswingers, Arshdeep Singh has emerged as a worthy successor – not just a mirror image, but an evolution of the Starc archetype.
He’s younger. He’s faster. He’s statistically sharper. And he’s learning fast. With every death over he dominates, every yorker that rattles the stumps, and every pressure situation he thrives in, Arshdeep is redefining what it means to be a left-arm quick in the T20 era.
From Punjab to the World Stage
What makes Arshdeep’s journey even more compelling is the context. Coming from Punjab’s cricketing heartland, Arshdeep was initially known for his U19 World Cup stint and IPL performances. But the way he has matured into India’s go-to pacer in T20Is, especially in the death overs, is a story of grit, evolution, and perfect timing.
He’s not just following in Starc’s footsteps – he’s carving his own path with an Indian stamp on it.
The Left-Arm Throne Is In Safe Hands
With Mitchell Starc gone, cricket was at risk of losing a rare breed – the lethal left-arm fast bowler who could swing it at pace, deliver under pressure, and thrive in crunch moments. Luckily, Arshdeep Singh has already stepped up.
India doesn’t just have their version of Mitchell Starc. They have someone who has already gone beyond the numbers, someone who is now writing the next chapter of left-arm pace in T20 cricket.
As we step into the post-Starc era, one thing is certain: the throne has a new occupant. His name is Arshdeep Singh.