Arshdeep Singh Matches Record for Costliest First Over by Indian in T20Is
In the ongoing T20I series between India and New Zealand, Arshdeep Singh had a challenging start during the second match. The game took place on January 23, 2026, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur, India.
Arshdeep Singh Matches Record for Costliest First Over by Indian in T20Is
Bowling the first over, Arshdeep conceded 18 runs, making it one of the costliest opening overs by an Indian bowler in T20 International history. Devon Conway, New Zealand’s opener, aggressively scored three fours and one six during this over.
A Historic Comparison
This performance ties with a previous record held by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who also gave up 18 runs in his first over during a T20I against Ireland on June 28, 2022. Notably, that instance occurred during the run chase, while Arshdeep faced this pressure right from the start of the match.
- Date of Match: January 23, 2026
- Venue: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur, India
- Bowler: Arshdeep Singh
- Runs Conceded: 18 runs in the first over
- Opposing Batsman: Devon Conway
Additional Insights
Despite the rough beginning, Arshdeep bowled a third over where he again conceded 18 runs, facing a tough outing against New Zealand’s lineup, including batter Tim Seifert, who struck multiple boundaries.
Historically, the record for the most runs conceded in a first over of a T20I match belongs to Serbian bowler Vukasin Zimonjic. He conceded 22 runs in a match on August 31, 2025. In the women’s game, Swiss bowler Ashwin Vinod holds the notorious record for conceding 28 runs in his opening over.
Arshdeep’s performance and the records associated with it highlight the challenges faced by bowlers in the T20 format. As the series progresses, all eyes will be on him to see how he rebounds from this costly over.
