Former India opener Aakash Chopra has made a bold claim in which he compared the numbers of the country’s two premier fast bowlers in T20I cricket – Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. Chopra claimed that Arshdeep has more wickets than Bumrah despite having played fewer matches than him.
Arshdeep Singh was excellent in the first T20I against England as he produced excellent bowling figures. The left-arm seamer also became India’s highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket with 97 wickets to his name so far.
Arshdeep has picked up 97 wickets in 61 T20Is at an average of 17.90 and an economy rate of 8.24. He surpassed the legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the list. Chahal has 96 wickets to his name in 80 matches so far.
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Aakash Chopra compares Arshdeep Singh with Jasprit Bumrah
While speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra termed Arshdeep Singh as an important player for Team India in the shortest format. He hailed his progress over the years and even claimed that Arshdeep has picked more wickets than Bumrah despite having played lesser no. of matches.
“Arshdeep Singh is an important player. He has reached 97 wickets. He made his debut in June 2022, and June 2025 has not yet come and he is sitting on 97 wickets in two-and-a-half years. Interestingly enough, he has played only 61 or 62 matches,” Chopra noted.
“Jasprit Bumrah has played more matches than him and he has picked up more wickets than Jasprit Bumrah. I am not comparing. Of course, Jasprit Bumrah’s economy is 6.28, which is wow. He is slightly expensive but that’s okay,” he added.
Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah were key to India’s title-winning run in the T20 World Cup 2024. Singh was the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 17 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 12.64 while Jasprit Bumrah finished with 15 wickets at an average of 8.26.
“You don’t get left-arm pacers that easily” – Aakash Chopra on Arshdeep Singh
Further speaking in the video, Aakash Chopra recalled the importance of having a left-arm quick in the squad. He praised the way Arshdeep Singh used his skills against England in the first T20I at Kolkata.
“What a guy. You don’t get left-arm pacers that easily. He is that guy who gets the ball to swing in and away, he dismissed Phil Salt with an outswinger this time. It was interesting as two fielders were kept in the deep – square leg and fine leg,” Chopra observed.
Arshdeep Singh was excellent at Eden Gardens and made the slightly helpful bowling conditions work for him. The left-arm seamer removed both the England openers cheaply to lay a solid base for the upcoming Indian bowlers. He finished with figures of 2-17 in four overs.
India go 1-0 up in the series
Meanwhile, India cruised to a comfortable win over England after a dominating display at Eden Gardens. Arshdeep Singh started well for India while the spinner Varun Chakravarthy continued his dream national comeback with fine bowling figures of 3-17 in four overs.
In reply, opener Abhishek Sharma slammed a fiery 79 off just 34 deliveries with 5 fours and 8 sixes to take India to an easy win. The Men in Blue now lead the series 1-0 with four more matches left to be played.
