Harshit Rana has been flavour of the season as regards India's new generation of fast bowlers but one of head coach Gautam Gambhir's discoveries is not likely to play in India's playing eleven in the Champions Trophy with Arshdeep Singh still being regarded way ahead in terms of quality and talent. The Indian team management entrusted Harshit with all three ODIs against England, and if one is strictly fair to the hulking 6-feet-2-inch tall Delhi pacer, he has not been out of place.

Though Arshdeep has a superior economy rate of 5.17 against Harshit's 6.95 per over, it is the former's skill to get the ball back into the right-handers in the Powerplay overs that will make the difference in his favour in the tournament from February 19.

Arshdeep Singh likely to start in the opening match of Champions Trophy.

- Harshit Rana unlikely to play. (PTI). pic.twitter.com/w6iOvcv5XT

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 17, 2025

Arshdeep, who has played only nine ODIs after making his debut in a series of short ODIs in New Zealand in 2022, will be better in all but one aspect if one considers the parameters that would be used based on the conditions present at the Dubai International Stadium.

ALSO SEE :  Indian Flag Missing at Pakistan Venue, Controversy Erupts

Harshit Importance Stated by PTI :

While talking to PTI, Devang stated, 'Harshit has developed leaps and bounds in losing weight and also got sharper as far as speed is concerned. But if I had to pick one out of the two as Mohammed Shami's partner, it has to be Arshdeep because he can swing both ways and is a left-armer.''I would be a bit surprised if Harshit begins ahead of Arshdeep.'The PTI report further added that team management's move to include Harshit in all the three games to try the KKR bowler's credentials and see if he can replace the shoes of the ace Indian pacer who has been India's flagbearer in all the formats.

Arshdeep Singh, a left-arm pacer from the Indian team is now getting ready for the important Champions Trophy and a large number of fans are excited and a little worried too. Fans are worried about Jasprit Bumrah's injury and his fitness. Arshdeep proved himself in the T20 World Cup and now he is selected for the Champions Trophy because of his talent.

Arshdeep Singh’s Rise in ODI Cricket

Arshdeep’s ability to swing the new ball and perfect yorkers with the old ball made him an all-format bowler. His specialty is handling pressure in difficult situations, his excellent spells and his talent make him a strong contender in the Champions Trophy.

Since making his ODI debut, Arshdeep's ODI records (2022-2024)

Bumrah's injury is the main concern for India. If Bumrah isn’t fit, it is Arshdeep's responsibility to show his experience in the Champions Trophy. It won’t be an easy task, but the young left-arm pacer has shown that he can handle pressure. With every match, he is proving that he will be the game-changer for the team

ALSO READ: Game changer Shreyas Iyer reveals shocking team India story before Nagpur ODI

Can Arshdeep Be India’s Highest Wicket-Taker?

There’s a strong belief that Arshdeep could be the India’s leading wicket-taker in the Champions Trophy. He has the skills, the temperament, and the hunger to make an impact on the champions trophy. For Indian fans, Arshdeep’s skills and his improvement showcases that in the future years he will be the future star for pace attack in the team india. If he continues to bowl the way he has been, India might just have found their next big match-winner.

India just won the T20I series and is now getting ready to play England in 50-over format. These matches are crucial for India as they look to fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy. When they play the 50-over format , they will have different players than the ones who played in the T20I matches. India is expected to use this series to experiment and find the ideal combination for the Champions Trophy, so we may see several changes in the playing XI over the course of the three matches.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are going to open the match . They picked Yashasvi Jaiswal for the team, but he probably won't play unless Gill can't because he was injured. Shubman is also the Vice captain, which is another reason he will play. After those two, Virat Kohli will bat next, and then it's Shreyas Iyer's turn. It's hard to guess who will bat after them, Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul. However, since Rishabh Pant can win games and bats with his left hand, he might just be able to play.

Kuldeep Yadav is going to be our best player for spinning the ball. There might be times when you think Axar Patel should play instead of Ravindra Jadeja. But if Jadeja is with the team, he'll probably play before Axar does. Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar are the three players who can bat and bowl. The players, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami, are going to play too.

The ODI series will begin on February 6 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, with the second and third ODIs scheduled for February 9 and 12 in Cuttack and Ahmedabad, respectively.

ALSO READ: India vs. England ODI Series 2025: Schedule, Squads, Probable Playing XI, When & Where to Watch

The mega Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed the rise of countless cricketing stalwarts since its inception in 2008. It goes without saying that the cash-rich league is blessed with an incredible pool of talented cricketers from Indian domestic cricket. Many of them would feature the youngsters who would go on to pave a bright future for themselves in international cricket. 

See also: IPL 2025 to Implement ICC Code of Conduct with Significant Rule Changes

Although the IPL is primarily known for offering insane levels of entertainment to its viewers, the league also brings ground-breaking young talent to the fore which in turn benefits Indian cricket as a whole. All the entertainment and thrill would be vastly missing if it had not been due to these young newcomers. From hard-hitting batters to crafty bowlers and dynamic all-rounders, these youngsters would often join the party with an array of skills under their belt. On the back of jaw-dropping price tags, match-winning performances from previous seasons, and untapped potential, these players have often captured the attention of fans and pundits alike.

As the excitement builds around the upcoming IPL season, let’s take a moment to identify some notable newcomers who emerged through the ranks over the years to become a force to reckon with in world cricket.

Jaspirt Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah gained prominence in the Indian Premier League (IPL) after being identified by the Mumbai Indians (MI) and subsequently making his IPL debut in 2013. His distinctive bowling technique and speed attracted the attention of John Wright, the former head coach of Team India, who was serving as the coach of MI at that time. Bumrah made an immediate impact in his first IPL game against RCB in 2013, picking up the wicket of Virat Kohli. On the back of his sensational exploits in the IPL, Bumrah made his international debut in a T20I against Australia in 2016. Fast forward to today, Bumrah is renowned as the world's most lethal bowler across all formats. 

Arshdeep Singh

Arshdeep Singh's rise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has been marked by his consistent performances and hard work. After putting on fine performances both in the domestic and international circuits, Ashdeep has now become one of the most expensive Indian pacers in the IPL's history. The left-arm pacer made his IPL debut in 2019 and has been a key player for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) ever since. As the years rolled on, Arshdeep's performances in the IPL experienced an upward trajectory. With every passing edition, he was leaving an impact. Arshdeep's performances in the IPL led to him being selected for the India squad in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Arshdeep finished the 2024 T20 World Cup campaign as the joint-highest wicket-taker with Fazal Farooqi and has been awarded the T20I Men's Cricketer of the Year award by the ICC.   

Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad's rise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was marked by his debut in 2020, his role in CSK's 2021 title win, and his appointment as captain in 2024. Gaikwad made his IPL debut in 2020 for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He endured an ordinary first season where he played six games and scored three fifties and two ducks. But Gaikwad's debut showcased his potential to perform exponentially well on the big stage. In 2021, he played an instrumental role in CSK winning their fourth IPL title and was also named the Emerging Player of the Year. In 2024, Gaikwad made further advancements in his cricketing career by replacing long-standing CSK skipper MS Dhoni.  The youngster has continued to grow in stature thanks to some noteworthy performances in the IPL and is fighting to the teeth to get through a start-studded Indian lineup.

Nitish Reddy

Nitish Reddy's meteoric rise in international cricket can be vastly attributed to the time he spent with the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). A rare seam-bowling all-rounder hailing from the state of Andhra Pradesh, Nitish instantly became a batting hit for SRH. Although he endured a fruitless debut season in 2023 where he bowled five wicketless overs across two games and did not get a chance to bat, Nitesh was able to leave an impact in the 2024 season. He had to wait for the fourth game for an opportunity, and the youngster from Andhra hasn’t looked back since. However, the biggest moment of his cricketing career came during the third Test in the BGT series where he scored his maiden Test ton in a rain-hit affair to help India eke out a draw at the Gabba. That ton led the world to take cognizance of this young all-rounder. 

Harshit Rana

Harshit Rana emerged as a notable talent in Indian cricket after being bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2022 IPL auction. He made his IPL debut in the 2022 season and went on to win the IPL in 2024. After notching up some breathtaking performances in domestic cricket, Harshit was bought by Delhi Capitals in 2022 but he later switched allegiance a couple of years later and played a pivotal role in propelling KKR to a title win in 2024. Subsequently, he was handed a Test debut in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series where he returned formidable figures of 3-48 in the Perth Test leading India to a famous 295-run win.

Umran Malik

Young Indian bowling sensation Umran Malik rose to fame from almost nowhere during a 2021 IPL match, where he impressed one and all by bowling at speeds rarely seen in the history of Indian cricket. The rising talent from J&K stole the headlines almost imminently after making his debut in the 2021 IPL season. He quickly rose to stardom and impressed us all with his fiery thunderbolts clocking speeds in excess of 150 km/h consistently. Malik was acquired by SRH for Rs 4 crore and experienced a remarkable season. He was recognized as the Emerging Player of the tournament, having claimed 22 wickets across 14 matches. Additionally, he delivered the fastest ball by an Indian pacer, reaching a speed of 157 km/h, during a match against Delhi Capitals. Although away from the grand scheme of things, Malik still makes a strong case for himself as far as national selection is concerned. 

Yashasvi Jaiswal

The tall-swashbuckling Indian opener hails from an underprivileged background but he did not allow his poor beginnings to deter him from the path to glory. He made his IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings in 2020 before notching up his maiden IPL half-century against the same team a year later, in IPL 2021. Jaiswal was gradually blooded into the Royals team before stepping up in a huge way in IPL 2023, amassing 625 runs at a blistering strike rate of 163.61. His eye-catching performances in the IPL and domestic cricket attracted the attention of the national selectors and as a result, Jaiswal was able to make his first strides in international cricket at the tender age of 22. Playing in his maiden Test match against West Indies in 2023, Jaiswal slammed a scintillating 171 in the first innings, and a year later he scored 712 runs in the India vs England Test series, earning him the Player of the Series title.

Avesh Khan

Avesh Khan's IPL emergence came in 2021 when he had a breakthrough campaign for Delhi Capitals (DC). He was the team's top wicket-taker with 24 wickets. Avesh, who made his IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2017, had a bleak run during his formative IPL years. But his fortunes took a turn for the better when he moved to Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2018. Playing an impressive brand of cricket, he was brought on board by LSG for INR 10 Crore in the 2022 IPl season making him the most expensive uncapped Indian player at the time. During that season, Avesh had a stellar run and delivered with the ball, scalping 18 wickets. So far, Avesh has been in and out of the national side. Nevertheless, the right-arm quick continues to lurk around on the horizon, and in the absence of frontline pacers, Avesh can thrive and could prove to be a very handy commodity for India in crunch matches. 

The upcoming IPL 2025 season is knocking at our doorstep. While the world has continued to see the incredible rise of youth talent in this cash-rich over several editions, the list just does not end here. The cricketing fraternity continues to wait in anticipation for the next bunch of young cricketers who will dazzle us all with their brilliance and light of the tournament with their swashbuckling performances.

Arshdeep Singh Named ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year 2024

India's young left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has been selected for the prized ICC Men's T20I Cricketer of the Year honour for 2024. Arshdeep won this award on the back of consistent and great performances throughout the year, reiterating why he is a top bowler in the shortest form of the game.

Breakout Year for Arshdeep

Arshdeep Singh had an excellent 2024 in T20 internationals, ending as the top wicket-taker for India in the format. He played 18 T20Is and took 36 wickets, keeping an excellent economy rate. He was a significant asset for the Indian team due to his capability of bowling in the powerplay and death overs.

One of the most defining moments in Arshdeep's year was when he became the joint-highest wicket-taker from the ICC T20 World Cup with 17 wickets. Pressure performances in the knock-out stages were one of his brightest halls-of-fame performances that indicated and powered India's campaign.

Consistent Matches Across the Globe

Throughout 2024, Arshdeep showed his control, skills, and temperament for high-pressure cricket. His series spells against Australian, English, and South African teams proved the ability to use different conditions, opposition, with ease.Particularly during the five-match T20I series against Australia, he delivered some excellent performances and grabbed 10 wickets for the series. He made crucial contributions that helped India to win the series. His deadly yorkers, cunning slower balls, and swing at both ends proved tough for even the best batters in the world.

Arshdeep Singh’s T20I record in 2024

Memorable Performance:

Arshdeep Singh played very well this year. Arshadeep Singh played extremely good in a T20 World Cup game. It was in New York in a game against the USA. bowled so well that the other team couldn't score much. With his bowling, he helped his team win and only gave up 9 runs while taking 4 wickets.

But the largest game was the ICC T20 World Cup Final in Barbados. Arshdeep and two other fast bowlers, Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, had to help India keep their score of 176 runs. Arshdeep bowled very well. He only let the other team get 20 runs and he got two players in four tries. This helped India win the game. Arshdeep showed he could handle tough times in the most important match.

Class and Firepower in the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year for 2024

The ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year for 2024 celebrates the finest players who delivered match-winning performances and left an indelible mark on the shortest format of the Cricket. Here’s a look at the 11 players who shone brightest in 2024:

Rohit Sharma (India) 

Matches: 11 | Runs: 378 | HS: 121 | Avg: 42.00 | SR: 160.16 | Hundreds: 1

Rohit Sharma led India to their first T20 World Cup title in over a decade with his exceptional batting and astute leadership. Scoring 378 runs in 11 matches at a remarkable strike rate of over 160, Rohit played crucial knocks, including an explosive 92 against Australia in the Super Eight stage.

Travis Head (Australia) Matches: 15 | Runs: 539 | HS: 80 | Avg: 38.50 | SR: 178.47 | Fifties: 4

 Travis Head’s aggressive intent at the top of the order was pivotal for Australia, scoring at a blistering strike rate of nearly 180. His four half-centuries, including an 80 against Scotland, underscored his dominance against quality attacks.

Congratulations to the elite players selected for the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year 2024 🙌 pic.twitter.com/VaPaV6m1bT

— ICC (@ICC) January 25, 2025

Phil Salt (England) Matches: 17 | Runs: 467 | HS: 103 | Avg: 38.91 | SR: 164.43 | Hundreds: 1

Phil Salt’s explosive starts provided England with momentum, cementing his place as a key player in their lineup. His standout performances included an unbeaten 103* against the West Indies in November.

Babar Azam (Pakistan) Matches: 24 | Runs: 738 | HS: 75 | Avg: 33.54 | Fifties: 6

 Babar Azam anchored Pakistan's batting with his elegant stroke play, scoring consistently throughout the year, including three consecutive fifties against New Zealand.

ALSO READ: Under Pressure, Shubman Gill Shines with a Century for Punjab Against Karnataka

Nicholas Pooran (West Indies) Matches: 21 | Runs: 464 | HS: 98 | Avg: 25.77 | SR: 142.33 | Fifties: 2

Pooran played a crucial finishing role for the West Indies, with his highlight being a blistering 98 off 53 balls against Afghanistan at the T20 World Cup.

Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) Matches: 24 | Runs: 573 | HS: 133 | SR: 146.54 | Wickets: 24 | BBI: 5/18* Raza continued to shine as Zimbabwe’s talisman, delivering all-round performances with both bat and ball. His 133* against Gambia was a standout moment.

Hardik Pandya (India) Matches: 17 | Runs: 352 | HS: 50 | Wickets: 16 | BBI: 3/20*

Pandya's all-round brilliance played a vital role in India's T20 World Cup triumph, contributing crucial runs and taking key wickets, including a match-winning spell in the final.

Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) Matches: 14 | Wickets: 31 | BBI: 4/14 | Avg: 9.58 | Four-wicket hauls: 4

 Rashid's masterful spin bowling propelled Afghanistan to their first-ever T20 World Cup semi-final, with his consistency proving decisive.

Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka) Matches: 20 | Runs: 179 | HS: 67 | Wickets: 38 | BBI: 4/15

Hasaranga continued to be Sri Lanka’s go-to bowler, striking at crucial moments and maintaining his position among the top-ranked bowlers.

Jasprit Bumrah (India) Matches: 8 | Wickets: 15 | BBI: 3/7 | Avg: 8.26

Bumrah's lethal yorkers and exceptional death-over skills played a crucial role in India’s title-winning campaign, reaffirming his place among the world's best.

Arshdeep Singh (India) Matches: 18 | Wickets: 36 | BBI: 4/9 | Avg: 13.50

Arshdeep emerged as India’s leading wicket-taker, excelling in both the powerplay and death overs, with a standout performance of 4/9 against the USA.These 11 players showcased extraordinary talent, delivering consistent performances throughout 2024, and ensuring their place in the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year.

Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh set a new history for India as he became the leading T20I wicket-taker for India during the Kolkata T20I against England.

While the hosts India claimed a comfortable win in the five-match T20I series opener against England last Wednesday night; the left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh provided a solid starter for the hosts. It was the beginning of a new era in England cricket as Brendon McCullum started his white-ball coaching role.

However, the present T20 World Cup champions destroyed the previous T20 World Cup winners, while the visitors could never produce the fightback.

Arshdeep provided a solid start by dismissing both the English openers. On the third ball of the match, the left-arm pacer dismissed Phil Salt for a duck. In his next over, Ben Duckett was dismissed for just four runs.

Also Watch: Sanju Samson smashes 22 runs against Gus Atkinson in second over

Most T20I wickets for India: Arshdeep Singh broke Yuzvendra Chahal’s record

By picking up the first wicket of the match, Arshdeep equalled the leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal’s record for most T20I wickets by an Indian, as it was the 96th T20I wicket for the left-arm pacer. With the dismissal of Duckett, the Indian pacer completed his 97 T20I wickets and became the leading T20I wicket-taker for India. He is three wickets away from becoming the first Indian to complete 100 T20I wickets. 

Meanwhile, the Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was expensive by conceding 42 runs in his four overs, whereas England scored only 132 runs in 20 overs but picked up two wickets. With his two wickets, Pandya became India's third-leading T20I wicket-taker with 91 T20I wickets. 

Indian bowlers with the most T20I wickets

India claimed a powerful win

As the Indian bowlers dominated, England scored 132 all out in 20 overs. India chased down the target in just 12.5 overs after losing three wickets, where Abhishek Sharma played a furious innings to present the visitors with their largest T20I defeat by balls remaining. 

What a Spell by Arshdeep Singh!

Arshdeep Dazzles in Vijay Hazare Trophy Quarter-Final

Arshdeep Singh, the fast bowler from Punjab, performed well at the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-final last Saturday on January 11. By demonstrating his great ability to swing and seam the ball right in the beginning against Maharashtra, he really made everyone think he should be picked for India's Champions Trophy team.

Early Breakthroughs with Swing and Precision

Arshdeep performed well when he got the new ball, showing everyone how he can make it swing in both directions. He mastered it by clean-bowling Ruturaj Gaikwad and then was imbued with a high level of pride about how he got Siddesh Veer out. First, he kept throwing outswingers at Veer, then suddenly, he made one ball swing in and instantly, Veer edged it and had to leave. He completely spoiled Maharashtra's top batters.

Impressive Figures and a Terrific Spell

Arshdeep's been doing very well in domestic cricket because he's always the same and proficient at controlling the game. In just seven matches during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he has caught 19 wickets! That is even better than Varun Chakravarthy's record for the season. In addition, his start was amazing, catching 5 wickets and only giving up 21 runs in his first spell. And in his last couple of games, against Hyderabad and Puducherry, he took down four wickets each time.

Everybody's talking about how great Arshdeep would be for India's ODI and Test teams, not only his fans but even the experts. He's already doing great in T20I cricket, but what really shows he's ready for everything is how well he's playing in both domestic and county cricket. Because he's always doing a great job, people really think he should be picked for the Champions Trophy team.

ALSO READ: ILT20 chief hits back at Graeme Smith over SA20 remarks

WHAT A SPELL BY ARSHDEEP SINGH 🥶

- Arshdeep gets Ruturaj in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Quarters.

Arshdeep is making a big case for Champions Trophy squad ⚡ pic.twitter.com/4R8DXPQvqF

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 11, 2025

Maharashtra’s Recovery After Arshdeep’s Magic

Arshdeep Singh knows how to remain calm and do very well when it matters the most, proving he could be of significant consequence in cricket for India in all the different game types. Even though Arshdeep knocked out some early players, Arshin Kulkarni and Ankit Bawne didn't let that rattle them. They stuck there and built a strong stand for Maharashtra.

This man, Arshdeep, with his killer combo of swerving the ball, pinpoint aim, and calm demeanor, is definitely someone to watch closely as he climbs the ranks in cricket, both in India and around the globe. At the moment, Ruturaj Gaikwad's peer group is making things better, with the scoreboard reading 139/2 after 31.3 overs.

Arshdeep Singh Career Stats

Bowling

Team India's painful episode down under came to an end on Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) as Australia hammered them 3-1 to regain the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) for the first time in a decade. Needless to say, it was a series to forget for the Indian players and the coaching staff led by Gautam Gambhir who has now come under severe criticism for his inability to deliver positive results. 

Under his mentorship, India has now lost six out of eight Tests and as the dust settles on the five-match BGT 2024-25 series, the attention now shifts to the white-ball series which is lined up against England later this month just before the start of Champions Trophy. The selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar traveled with the Indian team to Australia along with Gambhir and the duo will now reportedly sit down to discuss possible squad combinations for the upcoming England home series and Champions Trophy. 

See also: Gautam Gambhir Calls for Players to Focus on Domestic Cricket, Irfan Pathan Responds Furiously

India's probable squad for the England series

Following the tireless Australian tour, the senior players from Team India are likely to be rested for the England series. As per reports, it is highly probable that we could see the omission of some big names like Virat, Rohit, and Bumrah. However, with a very short window period before the start of the marquee event, the chances of them being left out are slim.

Yashasvi Jaiswal could make a strong case for himself at the top of the order and can pair either with Rohit Sharma or Shubman Gill. It remains to be seen where Virat would bat in the batting order. After months of inactivity, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya could possibly return to the ODI set up too. Shreyas Iyer has demonstrated impressive performance in recent white-ball tournaments. The competition for the middle order position appears to be between him and KL Rahul; however, Rahul may have the advantage due to his ability to serve as a wicketkeeper as well. Rishabh Pant is expected to take on the role of the specialist wicketkeeper.

As far as India's pace battery is concerned, India do not want deplete the energy reverses of Jasprit Bumrah after a hectic BGT tour just before the Champions Trophy. Keeping that in mind, India would want to utilize Bumrah judiciously and it is highly likely that we may not see him in action in the white-ball series against England. Apart from him, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami could be the other fast bowlers subjected to fitness.

India's last ODI assignment under Gambhir

India's last white-ball assignment in the ODI format ended in a 0-2 defeat in Sri Lanka. Under Gambhir's mentorship, India suffered the first bilateral series defeat against Sri Lanka in 27 years. Despite being in a very competitive position in the first ODI, the Indian team was forced to settle for a tie in the first game and were subsequently outclassed in the next two ODIs courtesy of a lethal spin bowling attack from Sri Lanka.

However, in the following months, India witnessed a significant surge in performance in the T20I format when they famously took down Bangladesh and South Africa by an unbelievable margin of 3-0 and 4-1 respectively. 

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!