India pacer Arshdeep Singh grabbed attention with an impressive display of football skills during the first T20I against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Thursday, October 22. The left-arm fast bowler produced a brilliant piece of fielding to run out Bevon Jacobs, handing India a crucial breakthrough in the closing stages of the innings.
The dismissal came on the third delivery of the 18th over. Arshdeep Singh bowled a pinpoint yorker on off stump, which Glenn Phillips managed to defend. However, Jacobs, batting at the non-striker’s end, called for a risky single and sprinted towards the striker’s end.
Although Jacobs dived in an attempt to make his ground, Arshdeep reacted quickly and used his foot to kick the ball back towards the stumps. With Jacobs’ bat still in the air, the New Zealand batter was caught short of his crease. The remarkable effort showcased Arshdeep’s presence of mind and footballing ability at a crucial moment in the match.
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Jacobs had been making a valuable contribution to New Zealand’s innings before his dismissal. He scored 31 runs off just 16 deliveries, including three sixes, at an impressive strike rate of 193.75. His wicket proved important for India as the hosts looked to accelerate towards the end of their innings.
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Apart from his fielding brilliance, Arshdeep is also approaching significant milestones in T20I cricket. He entered the match needing four wickets to become the first Indian bowler to claim 150 wickets in the format. Earlier in the innings, he dismissed Daryl Mitchell for 28 and finished his four-over spell with figures of 1/45.
Before the match, Arshdeep had taken 146 wickets in 100 T20I appearances at an average of 20.47 and an economy rate of 8.65, with best figures of 5/51. He is already India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is.
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The 27-year-old is also chasing another milestone in 2026. He has claimed 36 wickets in 28 matches this year, leaving him two short of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s Indian record of 37 T20I wickets in a calendar year, achieved in 2022. With four matches remaining in the series, Arshdeep has an opportunity to surpass that mark and strengthen his place in India’s record books.
