Arshdeep Singh achieves unique feat with twin-strike during India-USA match in New York

India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh got the Men in Blue off to a top start in their T20 World Cup Group A clash against USA in New York on Wednesday by striking twice in the very first over of the fixture.

T20 World Cup 2024:  News  |   Schedule  |   Results   |   Points Table

Arshdeep trapped opener Shayan Jahangir off the first ball after India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field, getting the ball to straighten along off and middle and trap him plumb.

Later, in the final delivery of the over, he would have the in-form Andries Gous caught by Hardik Pandya, who was running to his right from mid off.

More from First Cricket News

BCCI defends decision to play vs Pakistan in Asia Cup months after Pahalgam attack: 'If we boycott...' 'Indian players share compassion and feeling of majority Indian public': Ten Doeschate on IND vs PAK clash

LIVE | USA vs India, T20 World Cup 2024, Group A match in New York

Arshdeep, thus, not only became the first Indian bowler to take a wicket off the first ball of an innings at the T20 World Cup, he also became the first Indian to strike twice in the first over at ICC’s flagship T20 event.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

The United States, who are also unbeaten in the tournament and are level on four points with India, crawled to 18/2 at the end of the powerplay thanks to Arshdeep’s top start. Aaron Jones, who is leading the home team in place of injured wicketkeeper-captain Monank Patel , was batting on 10 with Steven Taylor on 5.

Arshdeep would later get rid of Nitish Kumar (27) and Harmeet Singh (10) and finish with career-best figures of 4/9 as India restricted USA to 110/8 after opting to field in New York.

While the United States made two changes to their lineup, bringing in Shadley van Schalkwyk replaced Nosthush Kenjige in the other change, India opted for an unchanged XI, retaining the team that defeated Ireland and Pakistan.

Both USA and India will be hoping to seal their place in the Super Eights with a victory in Wednesday’s fixture, joining South Africa and Australia among teams already through to the next round.

The USA had defeated Canada by seven wickets in the tournament opener in Dallas before pulling off a stunning victory over Pakistan in a match that went into a Super Over.

Team India started off with an eight-wicket win against Ireland in New York before defeating Pakistan by six runs at the same venue while defending a modest total of 119.