Arshdeep Singh etched his name in India’s ICC T20 World Cup history books after claiming 4/9 in Match 25 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 against co-hosts USA at Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York. Arshdeep was right in his zone and claimed a wicket off the first ball of USA’s innings. He took two scalps in his first over before coming back and picking another two. Arshdeep’s heroics helped India restrict the USA to 110/8 in 20 overs on a bowling surface. It’s the lowest total against India in the global ICC tournament. Meanwhile, Arshdeep’s 4/9 is the best figure by an Indian bowler in T20 World Cups.
Notably, Arshdeep also became the first Indian bowler to claim a wicket off the first delivery of a T20 World Cup match. The left-arm pacer joined the likes of former Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and Afghanistan’s Shapoor Zadran. Meanwhile, Namibian pacer Ruben Trumplemann managed the feat twice (2021 and 2024).
India booked their berth in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2024 after a seven-wicket win. Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten half-century as Shivam Dube supported him.
Here, we present Indian bowlers with the best bowling spells in T20 World Cup history.
Arshdeep Singh – 4/9
Arshdeep has set the record, breaking the tally of Ravichandran Ashwin for India. As per ESPNcricinfo, Arshdeep became the sixth Indian bowler to claim a four-wicket haul in a T20 WC match. He joined the likes of Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, RP Singh, Zaheer Khan, and Pragyan Ojha. Arshdeep owns 17 T20 World Cup wickets from nine matches at 13.58 (ER: 7.21). In the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, he has seven scalps at 10.71. Arshdeep owns 69 T20I scalps at 19.84. He claimed his 2nd four-wicket haul (ER: 8.45). Overall, Arshdeep has managed 171 wickets from 135 matches at 23.59.
R Ashwin – 4/11
Ashwin registered a spell of 4/11 in 3.2 overs against Australia in the 2014 edition of the T20 World Cup in Mirpur. India scored 159/7 after batting first. It was Ashwin’s magic that helped his side bowl the Aussies out for a paltry score of 86. Ashwin dismissed Australian openers, Aaron Finch and David Warner. He also claimed the crucial wicket of Glenn Maxwell. The Indian spinners shared seven of the 10 Aussie wickets.
Ashwin is India’s leading wicket-taker in ICC T20 World Cup history with 32 wickets at 17.25 (ER: 6.49). Overall, in T20Is, he has claimed 72 wickets from 65 matches. He has 300-plus scalps in T20 cricket.
Harbhajan Singh – 4/12
A decisive 4/12 from Harbhajan Singh against England in the 2012 edition of the T20 World Cup was a solid effort. Harbhajan bowled two maiden overs in that spell. The match in Colombo saw India score an impressive 170/4 in 20 overs. Rohit Sharma led the show with 55*. In response, India bowled England out for 80. Harbhajan got the key scalps of Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler.
In 19 T20 World Cup games, Harbhajan finished with 16 wickets at 29.25. In T20Is, the right-arm offie took 25 wickets. Overall, Bhajji claimed 235 T20 scalps at 26.35.
RP Singh – 4/13
Former Indian left-arm pacer RP Singh managed figures worth 4/13 versus South Africa in the inaugural 2007 edition in Durban. The pacer was instrumental in helping his side restrict South Africa to 116/9 after India scored 153/5 in 20 overs. Singh removed openers, Herschelle Gibbs and Graeme Smith. He then dismissed Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel later on. Earlier, Rohit’s 50* and MS Dhoni’s 45 helped India get past the 150-run mark.
In 10 T20Is, Singh claimed 15 wickets for India at 15. Overall, he managed 146 T20 scalps from 132 matches at 24.91.
Zaheer Khan – 4/19
The left-arm pacer on this list – Zaheer Khan – dazzled for India against Ireland in the 2009 edition. Zaheer’s brilliance with the ball saw Ireland get to a score of 112/8 in 20 overs in Nottingham. Zak dismissed three of the top 4 batters and also got the key scalp of top-scorer Andre White (29). India sealed a comfortable chase in response. Zak claimed 17 wickets from 17 T20I matches at 26.35. Overall, he managed 139 scalps in 20 overs cricket at 27.35.
Pragyan Ojha – 4/21
The 2009 edition of the T20 World Cup saw left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha flooring Bangladesh in Nottingham. India scored an impressive 180/5 in 20 overs. Gautam Gambhir led the way with a fifty. The Tigers scored 155/8 in response. He got the key scalp of opener Zunaed Siddique (41). He also dismissed star players like Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah and Mortaza. Ojha played six T20Is for India, taking 10 scalps. Overall, he managed 156 wickets from 142 T20 matches at 22.38.