Is Arshdeep Singh currently India's second-best T20I pacer?

Team India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh continued a magnificent 2024 T20 World Cup campaign with his latest showing against USA in New York on June 12. His 4/9 in four overs were not only his best-ever T20I bowling figures but also the best by an Indian in T20 World Cup history.

Arshdeep's incredible performance helped India win a third straight game and qualify for the Super Eight. The 25-year-old also took his tournament tally to seven wickets at an average of 10.71 and an economy of 6.25 in three outings.

Arshdeep's match-winning displays in T20Is have prompted discussions on whether he may be India's second-best T20I pacer currently behind the legendary Jasprit Bumrah. While that may be too strong a statement to make in a T20I career under two years old, his recent performances warrant the conversation.

On that note, let us break into the finer details of Arshdeep Singh's numbers and find out if he is indeed India's second-best T20I pacer.

A glance at Arshdeep Singh's T20I career

Before heading into the path of comparisons, let us look at Arshdeep Singh's T20I numbers in isolation. The left-arm pacer debuted for India in the shortest format in July 2022 and has played 47 matches so far.

Arshdeep has picked up 69 wickets at an incredible average of 19.84 and an economy of 8.45 in those outings. Considering the ongoing T20 World Cup, it is also worth mentioning that the 25-year-old has picked up 17 wickets at an average of 13.58 and an economy of 7.21 in nine games in tournament history.

The above numbers highlight why Arshdeep must be in contention for the No. 2 spot behind Bumrah in Team India's T20I pace-bowling department. Now, let us look at a few other comparative tangible and intangible factors to see if he is or isn't.

Does Arshdeep Singh deserve the title of India's second-best T20I pacer?

A more detailed breakdown of Arshdeep Singh's T20I numbers and other intangibles reveals why he is undeniably India's second-best current T20I pacer. He boasts the second-best T20I bowling average (19.84) all-time among Indian pacers with at least 50 wickets, behind only Jasprit Bumrah's 18.98.

For context, the next two best averages for Indian pacers still in the fray are Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 23.10 and Hardik Pandya with 25.18. Should we look at more recent numbers, Arshdeep has the most wickets by an Indian bowler - pacer or spinner, since 2023, with 36.

The second-highest is Ravi Bishnoi with 20 and the next-best pacer is Hardik Pandya with 18. That Arshdeep has doubled the number of T20I wickets compared to the nearest Indian pacer over the past year and a half further strengthens his case.

In under two years of T20I action, Arshdeep is already India's sixth all-time in wickets and third among pacers behind only Bumrah and Pandya. As if these mind-boggling numbers aren't enough, he is already the second-highest wicket-taker among Indian pacers in T20 World Cups behind only Pandya, while playing in only his second edition.

The Madhya Pradesh-born pacer also has a tremendous impact on winning, evidenced by his vastly distant numbers in India's wins and losses in T20Is. Arshdeep has bagged 54 wickets in wins at a stunning average of 17.29 and an economy of 8.10.

Yet, in losses, the left-arm pacer averages 38.10 at an economy of 9.60, indicating how his performances have often mirrored India's in the shortest format.

Besides these phenomenal figures, Arshdeep has a few key intangibles in his favor that separate him from almost all the other Indian pacers.

Most Indian pacers playing currently are right-armed, while Arshdeep brings in the point of difference as a left-arm pacer, adding crucial variety to the lineup. Furthermore, he is among the rare Indian pacers who pick up early wickets in the powerplay and produce yorkers at will in the death overs.

Out of Arshdeep's 69 T20I wickets, 28 have come in the powerplay at an average of 21.80, while 36 have been from over No. 16 to 20 at an average of 16.60. Such an even splitting demonstrates his incredible prowess to be effective at the two most challenging stages of a T20 innings.

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All the above numbers scream that Arshdeep Singh is undeniably India's second-best pacer behind Jasprit Bumrah. Add to that the winning impact, left-arm angle, and versatility, there is even a wild case that he may eventually become India's best pacer if we project a similar arc.

Should Arshdeep enjoy a few more similarly successful seasons in T20Is, he may challenge Bumrah and others in the pantheon of Indian pacers. For now, he can assuredly tell himself that there is Bumrah and himself, followed by daylight before the rest.