Arshdeep Singh made an immediate impact on his return to India’s T20I playing XI, claiming the first wicket of the opening match against West Indies at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. India won the toss and elected to bowl first in the opening game of the five-match T20I series. West Indies openers Shai Hope and Kamil Pooran made a positive start, putting together 36 runs during the first four overs.
Captain Shreyas Iyer introduced Arshdeep Singh for the third over of the powerplay, and the left-arm pacer rewarded the decision almost immediately.
On the third delivery of the over, Arshdeep bowled a full ball outside off stump and executed the yorker perfectly. Pooran attempted to reach for the delivery and drive it through the off side, but the ball took a thick inside edge before crashing into the stumps.
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The wicket ended Pooran’s promising stay at the crease. The right-hander departed for 12 runs from 11 deliveries, leaving West Indies without their dangerous opening partnership. Pooran was visibly disappointed with the manner of his dismissal, while India welcomed the breakthrough after the West Indies openers had attacked positively during the powerplay.
𝙄.𝘾.𝙔.𝙈.𝙄
🎥 TIMBER STRIKE x 2️⃣, ft. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel \|/🔥
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#TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @mflone_ | @arshdeepsinghh | @akshar2026 https://t.co/W5xj27xRT5
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 6, 2026
The wicket also marked an important return for Arshdeep, who was part of India’s squad at the 2026 Asian Games. However, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pace attack and conditions favouring spin, Arshdeep did not feature in any of India’s matches during the tournament.
He wasted little time making his presence felt after returning to the playing XI against West Indies. Arshdeep remains India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is and now has 141 wickets from 95 matches, averaging 19.77 with an economy rate of 8.49. His best figures remain 5/51.
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Before the Lucknow T20I began, Arshdeep was also involved in a special moment. He presented Naman Dhir with his maiden T20I cap as the 26-year-old made his debut in the shortest format. Dhir had already made his international debut during India’s recently concluded ODI series against West Indies, featuring in all three matches. Now, he has received an opportunity to continue his international journey in T20I cricket.
