Arshdeep Singh storms into history books, becomes first-ever bowler to script this mighty feat

Days after surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal to become India's leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket, Arshdeep Singh was awarded the prestigious ICC T20I Player of the Year award on Saturday. This recognition comes on the heels of a remarkable year for the young pacer, who played a crucial role in India's triumphant 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.

Arshdeep Singh's exceptional performances in 2024 earned him the prestigious ICC T20I Player of the Year award. He was a key contributor to India's T20 World Cup victory, claiming 17 wickets in eight matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.16. This made him the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi. Arshdeep's overall T20I record in 2024 was equally impressive. He played 18 matches and took 36 wickets at an outstanding average of just 13.50.

Arshdeep Singh was awarded the prestigious ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year award on Saturday, capping off a remarkable 2024. He beat out strong competition from Pakistan's Babar Azam, Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza, and Australia's Travis Head for the coveted prize. Arshdeep played a pivotal role in India's T20 World Cup triumph, claiming 17 wickets in eight matches at an impressive economy rate of 7.16, making him the joint-highest wicket-taker in the tournament alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi.

Arshdeep Singh's victory marks a historic moment for the ICC T20I Player of the Year award. He is the first-ever bowler to receive this prestigious honor. Since its inception in 2021, the award has been dominated by batters and wicket-keeper batters, with no all-rounders or bowlers previously recognized. Arshdeep joins an elite group, becoming only the third recipient of this award, following Pakistan's wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and Indian batting sensation Suryakumar Yadav.

The ICC T20I Player of the Year award has now been won by an Indian cricketer in three out of the four editions, with Arshdeep Singh being the latest recipient. This highlights the consistent excellence of Indian players in the shortest format of the game. Arshdeep's victory also marks a significant achievement for Indian fast bowling. He is only the second Indian pacer to win an ICC award, following Irfan Pathan's triumph as the Emerging Player of the Year in the inaugural edition in 2004.

Arshdeep Singh's accolades extended beyond the ICC T20I Player of the Year award. He was also selected for the prestigious ICC T20I Team of the Year. Notably, Rohit Sharma was named the captain of this elite team, which also features his teammates Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. This recognition further solidifies India's dominance in the shortest format of the game.