In the first one-day Internationals (ODIs), Arshdeep Singh created history by becoming the first fast bowler from India to take five wickets against South Africa.
Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg played host to an exciting match that took place during India’s first one-day international match during their tour of South Africa in 2023-24. Because to Arshdeep Singh’s great performance, the South African innings got off to a rocky start. This was not the case for the rest of the game. He took the wickets of crucial players such as Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, and Andile Phehlukwayo, wreaking havoc on the opposition with his pinpoint accuracy and pinpoint accuracy in his bowling. The lethal deliveries that Arshdeep Singh made won him a five-wicket haul, which was well-deserved, and he also had fantastic figures of five wickets for 37 runs. This outstanding performance played a significant part in reducing South Africa to a modest total of 116 runs in 27.3 overs.
Arshdeep Singh spearheaded a relentless fall of wickets, showcasing a masterclass in disciplined and controlled bowling that garnered him well-deserved accolades. His adept exploitation of the conditions at Wanderers Stadium became the highlight of the match, disassembling the South African batting line-up with finesse.
In response to a target of 117 runs, India exhibited a composed and methodical batting performance. Although opener Ruturaj Gaikwad made an early exit, Sai Sudharsan and Shreyas Iyer assumed the mantle, steering the innings with precision. Sudharsan’s unbeaten half-century, complemented by Iyer’s brisk 52-run contribution, led India to a comfortable victory, reaching 117/2 in just 16.4 overs.
Arshdeep’s outstanding performance etched a new chapter in India’s cricket history, particularly for fast bowlers. Notably, he stands alone as the sole fast bowler in the distinguished list of those who claimed a five-wicket haul against the Proteas in ODIs.
Indian bowlers to take 5-fer in an ODI against South Africa:
1 – Sunil Joshi – 5/6, Nairobi, 1999
2 – Yuzvendra Chahal – 5/22, Centurion, 2018
3 – Ravindra Jadeja – 5/33, Kolkata, 2023
4 – Arshdeep Singh – 5/37, Johannesburg, 2023
