(Credit ICC)
In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024 match between India and the United States of America (USA) at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, India’s fast bowler Arshdeep Singh delivered an exceptional performance with the new ball. Opting to field first after winning the toss, India’s captain Rohit Sharma entrusted Arshdeep Singh with the crucial task of opening the bowling attack.
Arshdeep Singh immediately justified his captain’s decision by taking India off to a flying start, showcasing his excellent form in the tournament thus far. He struck early in the innings, dismissing Shayan Jahangir with a remarkable delivery on the very first ball. Jahangir was trapped lbw by a superb nip-backer that darted sharply into him, catching him off-guard in the crease. The umpire wasted no time in raising his finger, confirming the dismissal.
Arshdeep Singh’s confidence was evident as he swiftly started his celebratory run knowing the batter was out. Jahangir, acknowledging his fate, opted against a review and began his walk back to the pavilion, conceding to Arshdeep Singh’s skillful bowling display at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
By claiming a wicket on the opening delivery of the match, Arshdeep Singh etched his name in history as the first Indian bowler to achieve this feat in a T20 World Cup game, joining an elite group that includes Mashrafe Mortaza, Shapoor Zadran, and Ruben Trumplemann.
Here’s the exclusive list of bowlers who have achieved this milestone:
– Mashrafe Mortaza (BAN) vs AFG, 2014
– Shapoor Zadran (AFG) vs HK, 2014
– Ruben Trumplemann (NAM) vs SCO, 2021
– Ruben Trumplemann (NAM) vs OMAN, 2024
– Arshdeep Singh (IND) vs USA, 2024*
Adding to his remarkable achievement, Arshdeep Singh became the third Indian bowler to claim a wicket on the very first ball of a T20I match, joining the ranks of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya. However, he stands out as the sole bowler to achieve this feat in the first ball of the first innings.
Here’s the notable list of instances when an Indian bowler took a wicket on the first ball of a T20I match:
– Bhuvneshwar vs SL (2022)
– Bhuvneshwar vs ENG (2022)
– Bhuvneshwar vs ZIM (2022)
– Hardik Pandya vs WI (2023)
– Arshdeep Singh vs USA (2024)*
Arshdeep Singh’s impact in the game continued as he struck again, this time claiming the wicket of Andries Gous on the last delivery of the opening over. With a well-directed short ball that generated extra bounce, Gous found himself in an awkward position while attempting a pull shot, resulting in a mistimed stroke that looped back towards the bowler.
Reacting swiftly, Hardik Pandya, stationed at mid-off, moved to his right and completed a simple catch. Arshdeep Singh’s performance remained exemplary throughout the match, causing difficulties for the United States of America (USA) batsmen with his precise bowling lines and lengths. His outstanding efforts yielded his best figures in T20Is, concluding with an impressive 4 wickets for just 9 runs.
