Former India opener Aakash Chopra has made a bold claim comparing the figures of the country’s two best fast bowlers in T20I cricket – Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. Chopra claimed that Arshdeep has more wickets than Bumrah despite playing fewer matches than him.
Arshdeep Singh was excellent in the first T20I against England as he scored excellent bowling figures. The left-arm seamer also became India’s highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket with 97 wickets 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 legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal on the list. Chahal has 96 wickets in 80 matches so far.
Also read: Abhishek Sharma placed on the same pedestal as Rohit Sharma
Aakash Chopra compares Arshdeep Singh with Jasprit Bumrah
While speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra called Arshdeep Singh an important player for Team India in the shortest format. He praised his progress over the years and even claimed that Arshdeep has taken more wickets than Bumrah despite playing less no. match.
“Arshdeep Singh is an important player. He has taken 97 wickets. It debuted in June 2022, and June 2025 has not yet arrived he sits on 97 wickets in two and a half years. Interestingly, he played only 61 or 62 games,” Chopra pointed out.
“Jasprit Bumrah has played more matches than him and has picked up more wickets than Jasprit Bumrah. I’m not comparing. Of course, Jasprit Bumrah’s economy is 6.28, which is wow. He’s a bit more expensive, but that’s okay,” he added.
Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah were instrumental in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 title win Singh was the second highest wicket taker in 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
Speaking further in the video, Aakash Chopra recalled the importance of the left arm fast in the team. He praised the way Arshdeep Singh used his skills against England in the first T20I in Kolkata.
“What a guy. You don’t get left-handed pacers that easy. He’s that guy that makes the ball swing in and away, hand this time he dismissed Phil Salt with an outswinger. It was interesting because two fielders were kept in the deep – square leg and fine leg,” observed Chopra.
Arshdeep Singh was excellent at Eden Gardens and made the slightly unhelpful bowling conditions work for him. The left-arm seamer removed both England batsmen cheaply to lay a solid foundation for the upcoming Indian bowlers. He finished with figures of 2-17 in four overs.
India lead 1-0 in the series
Meanwhile, India cruised to a comfortable win over England after dominating the Eden Gardens. Arshdeep Singh got off to a good start for India while opener Varun Chakravarthy continued his dream national comeback with good bowling figures of 3-17 in four overs.
In reply, opener Abhishek Sharma scored a fiery 79 off just 34 deliveries with 5 fours and 8 sixes to guide India to an easy victory. The men in blue now lead the series 1-0 with four games left to play.
