Arshdeep Singh, India’s top wicket-taker of 2024, has been named the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year at the ICC Awards. The 25-year-old left-arm pacer played a key role in India’s victory at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, held in the Caribbean and USA in June, ending India’s long wait for a major ICC trophy. Known for his skill in the powerplay and at the death, Arshdeep proved himself as a world-class T20 bowler in 2024. Since his international debut in 2022, India has trusted his talent, and he delivered this year by taking numerous wickets and maintaining an impressive economy rate on various pitches.
Arshdeep was the top Indian wicket-taker in T20Is in 2024, claiming 36 wickets in just 18 matches. He played a crucial role in helping India win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and became the leader of the bowling attack as the selectors started focusing on a new era for the T20 team after their victory in the Caribbean.
Only four players worldwide took more T20I wickets than Arshdeep that year: Usman Najeeb from Saudi Arabia (38), Wanindu Hasaranga from Sri Lanka (38), Junaid Siddique from UAE (40), and Ehsan Khan from Hong Kong (46). However, all of them played more matches, and only Hasaranga played for a full-member nation.
Arshdeep took wickets at an impressive average of 15.31. Despite mainly bowling in the powerplay and death overs, his economy rate was just 7.49, and he struck at a rate of 10.80, making him a constant threat with the ball.
Arshdeep had several impressive performances this year, including a standout display against the USA in New York during the T20 World Cup group stage, where he took 4 wickets for just 9 runs in 4 overs.
However, his most important performance came in the World Cup final in Barbados, where he played a key role in helping India defend their total of 176. Alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, who formed a strong pace trio, Arshdeep’s outstanding figures of 2 wickets for 20 runs in 4 overs were crucial in India’s victory.
Arshdeep made an impact with the new ball, getting South Africa’s dangerous captain Aiden Markram caught behind early in the third over. Later, when India needed a wicket in the middle overs, he struck again, dismissing Quinton de Kock when South Africa was gaining control of the chase.
India’s collective effort in the final stages was impressive as South Africa fell short by seven runs. Arshdeep played a key role by coming back to bowl the second-last over when South Africa needed 20 runs from 12 balls.
Arshdeep bowled a near-perfect over under intense pressure, giving away just four runs, which left Hardik Pandya with 16 runs to defend in the last over—a task he handled brilliantly.
Arshdeep was exceptional throughout the match, with strong performances in the powerplay, a crucial wicket in the middle overs, and excellent economy at the death. He stepped up when it mattered most.