Gautam Gambhir and Arshdeep Singh India pacer Arshdeep Singh had a forgettable outing in the second T20I against South Africa in Mullanpur on Thursday, taking an unprecedented 13-ball knock that drew visible frustration from head coach Gautam Gambhir and put the left-arm batsman next to an unwanted world record. Arshdeep’s 11th over meltdown, containing seven wides and a six, equaled Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq for the most balls ever bowled in a single over in men’s T20I cricket.
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A chaotic over for 18 runs as Quinton de Kock, already in smooth contact, continued his attack. De Kock smashed the first ball for a towering six over the visor before Arshdeep sprayed a succession of wayward chicanes attempting full and wide yorkers. The over stretched to 13 deliveries, marked by growing restlessness in the crowd and visible concern in the Indian dugout.
Most balls bowled in an over in T20Is (full teams)
- 13 – Naveen-ul-Haq vs ZIM, Harare, 2024
- 13 – Arshdeep Singh vs SA, Mullanpur, 2025
- 12 – Sisanda vs PAK, Jo’burg, 2021
Cameras shot repeatedly to a stern-faced Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel, both unfazed by the loss of control.Arshdeep’s match also coincided with de Kock’s dominance in the innings.Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bowl first, sticking with the same XI that produced a stunning 101-run win in the opening match. Captain Suryakumar Yadav cited the dew as a key factor and praised his bowlers for their clinical performance in the series opener. South Africa, looking for a strong response after the heavy defeat, made three changes, bringing in Reeza Hendricks, George Linde and Ottneil Baartman.While the surface at the newly inaugurated Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium offered good batting conditions, Arshdeep’s wayward charm became the highlight of the innings.
