Arshdeep Singh Becomes India's Leading T20I Wicket-Taker

Surpasses Yuzvendra Chahal with 97 Wickets in 61 Matches

In a landmark achievement, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has become India's highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals (T20Is), surpassing leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. This milestone was reached during the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Record-Breaking Performance

Entering the match with 95 T20I wickets, Arshdeep dismissed England's openers, Phil Salt and Ben Duckett, in quick succession. These crucial wickets elevated his tally to 97, overtaking Chahal's previous record of 96 wickets. Notably, Arshdeep achieved this feat in just 61 matches, highlighting his consistent impact since his debut against England in 2022.

Top Five T20I Wicket-Takers for India

International games

England Tour of India (1st T20I)

  1st T20I (N), Eden Gardens

• England: 132

• India: 133/3 (12.5/20 ov, Target: 133)

• Result: India won by 7 wickets (with 43 balls remaining)

When Yuvi Made Cricket Look Like a Video Game

Okay, picture this: It's 2007, the first-ever T20 World Cup is happening in South Africa, and India is playing England. Nobody knew it then, but we were about to witness something that'd make even a cricket video game look realistic.

So here's the setup: Yuvraj Singh, already annoyed after some chirping from Andrew Flintoff between overs (let's just say they weren't discussing dinner plans), walks in to face Stuart Broad. Poor Broad had no clue he was about to become part of cricket history – and not the kind you tell your grandkids about!

Ball 1: BOOM! Over deep midwicket. Six. Everyone's like, "Nice shot, Yuvi!"

Ball 2: KABOOM! Over backward square leg. Six again. Now people are getting excited.

Ball 3: SMASH! Over wide long-off. Third six. The crowd's going bonkers!

Ball 4: WHACK! Over backward point. Fourth six. Stuart Broad's probably wondering if he can fake an injury.

Ball 5: POW! Over deep midwicket. Fifth six. The whole stadium's lost it completely.

Ball 6: BANG! Over wide long-on. The magical sixth six! Total carnage! The kind of stuff you couldn't even script!

Get this – Yuvraj reached his fifty in just 12 balls. TWELVE! That's still the fastest T20I fifty ever. It's like he was playing cricket on easy mode while everyone else was stuck on legendary difficulty.

The best part? Each six was different. This wasn't just some wild slogging; it was like watching an artist at work – if the artist's paintbrush was a cricket bat and the canvas was the entire stadium. Yuvi was hitting them everywhere: front foot, back foot, over covers, through midwicket. It was like he had the cheat codes for cricket!

Before this, only two guys had ever hit six sixes in an over in professional cricket: Sir Gary Sobers and Ravi Shastri. Now Yuvi joined this super-exclusive club, and he did it on the biggest stage possible – a World Cup match. Talk about picking your moment!

The funny thing is, this wasn't even the end of Yuvraj's heroics in that World Cup. He went on to smash England again, demolished Australia, and played a huge part in India winning the whole thing. But ask anyone about the 2007 T20 World Cup, and the first thing they'll mention is "That Yuvraj over!"

Poor Stuart Broad went on to become one of England's greatest bowlers, but this over follows him around like that embarrassing photo your mom shows everyone. Though to be fair, when Yuvraj was in that kind of mood, it wouldn't have mattered if you were bowling hand grenades – they were all going over the rope!.

Domestic cricket + T20 leagues

International League T20 (UAE)

• Sharjah Warriorz: 91

• Desert Vipers: 95/0 (10/20 ov, Target: 92)

• Result: Desert Vipers won by 10 wickets (with 60 balls remaining).

Big Bash League (Australia)

• Sydney Thunder: 135/7 (19/19 ov)

• Melbourne Stars: 114 (18/19 ov, Target: 136)

• Result: Thunder won by 21 runs (DLS method).

Bangladesh Premier League

• Fortune Barishal: 167/9

• Khulna Tigers: 160/6 (20 ov, Target: 168)

• Result: Barishal won by 7 runs.

• Chittagong Kings: 148/6

• Dhaka Capitals: 149/2 (18.1/20 ov, Target: 149)

• Result: Dhaka won by 8 wickets (with 11 balls remaining).

Mohammed Shami's Comeback Delayed: Concerns Arise Ahead of Champions Trophy

Veteran Indian pacer Mohammed Shami's much-anticipated return to international cricket faced a setback as he was omitted from the playing XI in the first T20I against England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. This decision has sparked discussions about his fitness and readiness for the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Background

Shami had been sidelined since November 2023 due to an ankle injury sustained during the ODI World Cup final against Australia. The injury required surgery, followed by a prolonged rehabilitation period. His domestic comeback was further delayed by swelling in his left knee. Despite these challenges, Shami made a notable return to competitive cricket in the Ranji Trophy, leading Bengal to victory with a seven-wicket haul. He continued to impress in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, earning a spot in India's T20I squad for the England series.

Omission from Playing XI

During the toss for the first T20I, stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav announced that India would bowl first but did not include Shami in the lineup. The team management opted for a combination featuring three spinners, sidelining the experienced pacer. This decision raised eyebrows among fans and cricket analysts. Veteran cricketer Parthiv Patel expressed his surprise, stating, "We all were hoping that he'll get a go after a long time. But there has to be some reason behind Shami not playing."

Observations during practice sessions indicated that Shami might not be at peak fitness. Analyst Piyush Chawla noted, "He is still limping a bit... the main target should be to get him ready for the Champions Trophy." Such assessments have led to speculations about his availability for the forthcoming international matches.

News from Team Management

While an official statement regarding Shami's exclusion is awaited, it's plausible that the decision was influenced by strategic considerations and his current fitness levels. The team management might be exercising caution, aiming to ensure Shami's full recovery and optimal performance in the Champions Trophy, a crucial tournament on the cricketing calendar.

On This Day

1988

An 18-year-old called Brian Lara made his first-class debut, for Trinidad and Tobago against the Leeward Islands. He made 14 and 22, out twice to veteran left-arm spinner Elquemedo Willett, but he soon found his range: in his next match he hit 92 against a Barbados attack that included Joel Garner and Malcolm Marshall. None of his team-mates made it to 50.

Coming tomorrow

SA20

• Teams: Durban's Super Giants vs Paarl Royals

• Start Time: 9:30 AM GMT

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL)

• Match 31: Durbar Rajshahi vs Rangpur Riders

• Start Time: 8:30 AM GMT

• Match 32: Khulna Tigers vs Sylhet Strikers

• Start Time: 10:30 AM GMT

International League T20

• Teams: Dubai Capitals vs Gulf Giants

• Start Time: 4:30 PM GMT

Women's Ashes (2nd T20I)

• Teams: Australia Women vs England Women

• Start Time: 7:30 AM GMT

ICC Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup

• Match 23, Group A: Malaysia Women Under-19s vs West Indies Women Under-19s

• Start Time: 4:30 AM GMT

• Match 24, Group A: India Women Under-19s vs Sri Lanka Women Under-19s

• Start Time: 8:30 AM GMT

Ranji Trophy

What else is happening

• David Warner Revitalizes Sydney Thunder: David Warner's impressive performance this season has not only bolstered his batting stats but also unified the Sydney Thunder team. His leadership and form have been pivotal in the team's resurgence after previous challenges.

• South Africa Under-19s Clinch Series: South Africa's Under-19 team secured a series win against England, with Bosman's crucial spell leading to England's collapse after Archie Vaughan's 60. Bennie Hansen steadied the run chase, ensuring victory for the young Proteas.

• Bangladesh Nears ODI World Cup Qualification: Bangladesh's women's cricket team is on the brink of qualifying for the ODI World Cup after a historic victory over the West Indies. Nigar Sultana and Nahida Akter were instrumental in securing Bangladesh's first-ever win against the West Indies in any format.