India pacer Arshdeep Singh has been nominated for the ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award, recognizing his remarkable performances with the Men in Blue during 2023. Arshdeep played a pivotal role in India’s T20 World Cup victory in Barbados and will compete against Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, Australia’s Travis Head, and former Pakistan captain Babar Azam for the prestigious honor.
Arshdeep’s rise has been notable, filling the left-arm pacer void for India and stepping up as the team’s primary bowler in Jasprit Bumrah’s selective T20I appearances. He claimed 36 wickets in just 18 matches, trailing Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 37 by a single wicket despite playing fewer games.
His match-winning performances spanned diverse conditions, including a memorable display in the T20 World Cup final. Arshdeep dismissed South African batters Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock and delivered a clutch 19th over, sealing India’s second T20 title under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy.
Other Nominees:
- Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe): The 39-year-old all-rounder earned his third consecutive nomination with consistent performances, including leading Zimbabwe to an unbeaten run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup sub-regional Africa Qualifier Group B. Raza scored 199 runs and took 10 wickets in the tournament. His standout moment came in July against India, where his 3/25 helped Zimbabwe secure a 13-run win.
- Babar Azam (Pakistan): Pakistan’s leading T20I run-scorer in 2023, Babar notched six half-centuries at a strike rate of 133.21. He is closing in on becoming the all-time leading T20I scorer, surpassing Rohit Sharma. Babar’s highlight was a 75-run knock off 42 balls against Ireland, clinching a series win for Pakistan.
- Travis Head (Australia): Head showcased his explosive batting in 2024, amassing 539 runs at a strike rate of 178.47. He was the third-highest run-scorer in the T20 World Cup, tallying 255 runs. His highlight came against England in Southampton, where his 59 off 23 balls in the Powerplay led Australia to a commanding victory.
The ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year award recognizes outstanding performances in the shortest format, and Arshdeep’s inclusion among the nominees reflects his stellar contributions to Indian cricket.
