India’s Fast Bowler Arshdeep Singh. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
India pacer Arshdeep Singh created an unwanted milestone on Thursday after delivering a 13-ball over during the second India vs South Africa T20I at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh.
The left-arm quick’s chaotic 11th over of the innings — which included seven wides — cost India 18 runs, placing Arshdeep alongside Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq for the longest over ever bowled in T20Is by a full-member nation cricketer.
The incident quickly went viral on social media, with fans expressing shock at the lapse in control from a bowler regarded as one of India’s key death-overs specialists in T20 cricket.
Longest overs in T20 internationals (Full-member teams)
Arshdeep Singh – 13 balls (18 runs) vs South Africa, New Chandigarh 2025
Naveen-ul-Haq – 13 balls (19 runs) vs Zimbabwe, Harare 2024
Sisanda Magala – 12 balls (18 runs) vs Pakistan, Johannesburg 2021
Mark Adair – 11 balls (26 runs) vs Australia, Brisbane 2022
Before this, the longest over bowled by an Indian in T20Is was 11 balls, a record jointly held by Khaleel Ahmed and Hardik Pandya.
Longest overs by Indian bowlers in T20Is
Arshdeep Singh – 13 balls (18 runs) vs South Africa, New Chandigarh 2025
Khaleel Ahmed – 11 balls (11 runs) vs Sri Lanka, Pallekele 2024
Hardik Pandya – 11 balls (19 runs) vs Australia, Adelaide 2016
Arshdeep Singh – 10 balls (13 runs) vs Ireland, New York 2024
Arshdeep Singh – 10 balls (6 runs) vs West Indies, Tarouba 2023
Despite Arshdeep’s expensive over, South Africa powered their way to a commanding 213/4 in 20 overs. Veteran opener Quinton de Kock was the star of the innings with a blistering 90 off 46 balls, smashing seven sixes and five fours to dismantle India’s bowling attack.
For India, Varun Chakravarthy was the standout performer with the ball. The mystery spinner bagged 2 for 29 in his four overs, controlling the run rate when most other bowlers struggled.
The match now puts added pressure on India’s bowling unit as the series progresses, while Arshdeep Singh will look to rebound quickly from a forgettable outing that entered the T20I record books for all the wrong reasons.
