Arshdeep Singh Shortlisted for ICC T20I Cricketer of the Year

Arshdeep Singh, a young fast bowler from India, got a nomination for the Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year. It was on December 29 that the International Cricket Council put out the list of nominees. During the T20 World Cup 2024, Arshdeep really showed what he could do. Singh ended up as one of the top bowlers by taking the same number of wickets as the highest wicket-taker. In eight matches, he managed to get 17 victims, boasting a very low average of 12.64 and keeping his runs per over down to 7.16.

Arshdeep not only did an excellent job in the World Cup but also became the top spot for most wickets taken in Test matches among countries that play tests. He got 36 wickets across 18 games, with an impressive average of just 13.50 and giving 7.49 runs per over. What's surprising is that Jasprit Bumrah, even after getting the Player of the Tournament title at the T20 World Cup, didn't even get a nominee spot for the celebrated ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year award now.

ALSO READ:Arshdeep Singh's Five-Wicket Masterclass Stuns Mumbai in Vijay Hazare Trophy

Bumrah performed admirably during the World Cup, finishing as the tournament's second-highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets in eight games, boasting an incredible average of 8.26 and an economy rate of just 4.17. Another nominee is Pakistani star Babar Azam, who was the leading T20I run-scorer for both Test-playing teams and globally, accumulating 738 runs in 23 innings with an average of 33.54 and a strike rate of 133.21, including six half-centuries.

Travis Head from Australia is competing for the award too. This year, he was amazing in T20Is and obtained the most runs for Australia, hitting 539 in 15 games. Head managed to achieve an average of 38.50 and had an inordinately speedy strike rate of 178.47, which included scoring four half-centuries -- proving he can effectively challenge the bowlers.

Sikandar Raza from Zimbabwe completes the list of nominees, with a stellar 2024. Earlier this year, he got everyone to notice him by making the second-fastest century ever in T20 International games.Raza performed well overall, hitting a total of 573 runs over 23 innings, which gives him an average of 28.65. His hitting was very strong too, with a strike rate of 146.54.  Raza even managed to score one century and two fifties. When it comes to bowling, he wasn't unsuccessful either, taking 24 wickets in 23 matches and averaging 22.25 for each wicket he took. Raza shone in one game where he took 5 wickets and only gave up 18 runs.

Arshdeep Singh nominated for ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.

- Nominees: Raza, Head, Babar, and Arshdeep.#ArshdeepSingh #INDvsAUS #INDvAUS #AUSvIND #AUSvsIND #AUSvINDIA #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/fFHTfSuZMZ

— OP VIN (@vinsaa96) December 29, 2024

Now, fans can vote for their favorite players on the ICC website to help decide this prestigious accolade!