Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh etched his name in the T20 World Cup record books with a sensational performance in the opening moments of India’s match against the United States on Wednesday. Taking the field at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York, Singh delivered a dream first ball, dismissing USA opener Shayan Jahangir for a golden duck.
The well-directed delivery, a good-length ball that nipped back in, proved too much for the right-handed batsman, trapping him plumb in front of the wicket. With this early dismissal, Arshdeep not only provided India with a crucial breakthrough but also secured his place in T20 World Cup history. He becomes the first and only Indian bowler to claim a wicket on the very first ball of the match.
Singh’s brilliance didn’t end there. He struck again in the same over, dismissing another batsman to leave the home team reeling at a precarious 2 for 3. This double strike in the first over marked another milestone for Arshdeep, placing him alongside bowlers like Ruben Trumpelmann (Namibia) and Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) who have achieved the same feat in the T20 World Cup.
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Earlier, Indian captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field first. Both teams entered the match with identical records – two wins from two games in Group A. A victory in this encounter would guarantee a place in the coveted Super 8 stage for either side.
WHAT.A.START! 😍#ArshdeepSingh is on point from the get-go 🔥
USA are 0/1 👀#USAvIND | LIVE NOW | #T20WorldCupOnStar pic.twitter.com/BXkc9Qgjmt
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 12, 2024
Explaining his decision, Sharma said, “We will bowl first. It has played better in the last two games, but you need to assess the conditions quickly and then let the game take over. It’s all about constantly getting better and keeping the momentum going. It’s important to do the right things. That was a great game to play, we didn’t have enough runs on the board, but the bowlers came to the party and won the game for us. We’re playing the same team.”
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Meanwhile, the United States squad, fresh off their thrilling Super Over win against Pakistan, was forced to make two changes due to injuries. Skipper Monank Patel and spinner Nosthush Kenjige were sidelined, with Aaron Jones assuming the captaincy duties. Shayan Jahangir and Shadley van Schalkwyk were brought in as replacements for this crucial match.
With Arshdeep Singh’s fiery start and India opting to chase a yet-to-be-determined total, the stage is set for a thrilling encounter. Can India maintain their winning streak, or will the USA pull off another giant-killing performance? Only time will tell as the T20 World Cup drama unfolds in New York.
