Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Punjab knocked out but Arshdeep Singh finishes as highest-wicket taker

Maharashtra knocked Punjab out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 after handing them a 70-run defeat in the quarter-final 3 match on Saturday. However, Punjab’s ace pacer Arshdeep Singh continued to impress everyone with his fast bowling exploits. The left-arm pacer, once again, made the new ball talk and even left Maharashtra’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad bamboozled with his swing and accurate lengths. 

Arshdeep castled Ruturaj Gaikwad in the very first over of the game and followed it up with the wickets of Arshin Kulkarni and Siddhesh Veer. He finished with another promising spell of 3 for 56 in nine overs. With that, he also became the first Punjab pacer to pick 20 wickets in a Vijay Hazare Trophy season. He capped off the season as the leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets to his name in seven games at an average of 18.25. 

His consistent performances have certainly helped him to be included in India’s squad for the much-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025. In his limited ODI career thus far, he has played 8 matches for India, picking 12 wickets at 24.08. While he is a mainstay in India’s T20I squad, the selectors would be tempted to include him in the squad for the upcoming ODI series against England. 

Arshdeep Singh one wicket away from becoming India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is 

Arshdeep Singh is one of the biggest assets for India in T20 cricket. He had an outstanding 365 days last year, finishing with 35 wickets. T20 World Cup 2024 was, certainly, a tournament to remember for the 25-year-old as he claimed 17 wickets and finished as the second highest wicket-taker. 

Furthermore, the Punjab fast bowler is just one wicket away from becoming India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 internationals. Yuzvendra Chahal, currently, holds the record with 96 scalps to his name. Arshdeep Singh has 95 wickets and is on course to go past Yuzvendra Chahal in the upcoming T20I series vs England, starting 22nd January.