India left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh scored 5-51 in four overs as the Men in Blue defeated New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, January 31. With this win, the hosts sealed the five-match series 4-1. They will be in this state to welcome the 2026 T20 World Cup starting on February 7.

Hit the ball first after winning the toss in the final T20I Against New Zealand, India posted a total of 271-5 in 20 innings. Ishan Kishan smashed 103 off just 43 balls while captain Suryakumar Yadav smashed 63 off 30 balls. In the pursuit, the New Zealand team once achieved a record of 117-1. However, Arshdeep and left-arm spinner Axar Patel (3-33) combined to help New Zealand chase the score to 225.

interestingly, ashdeep‘s five deliveries set a record for the most expensive five-wicket haul in men’s T20Is. In this feature, we take a look at the five most expensive No. 5 balls in the history of men’s T20I cricket.

#5 Joshua Rasu (5-36 in 2.5 rounds)

Vanuatu medium-pacer Joshua Rasu ranks fifth in the list of most expensive bowlers with five wickets in men’s T20Is. In July 2019, he scored 2.5 overs in the 5-36 win over Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the sixth match of the Pacific Games men’s cricket tournament at Faleata Oval 2, Apia.

Vanuatu won the toss in this match and bowled first. Despite Rasu’s five-wicket haul, Papua New Guinea managed a competitive score of 181 in 19.5 overs. The Vanuatu team responded with 122-9. Rasu also scored the highest score with the bat, taking 40 off 39, but his all-round talent came to naught.

#4 Wasim Abbas (5-37 in 4 rounds)

In the second semi-final of the Continental Cup in September 2021, Maltese right-arm pacer Wasim Abbas had a record of 5-37 in four games against Romania in Ilford County.

Malta bowled first after winning the toss but lost 202-8 despite Abbas’s five wickets, which included the scalp of Romania captain Ramesh Satisan (39) and Taranjit Singh, who blasted 91 runs in 57 overs. In the chase, Malta trailed by 166 to 8 in 20 overs, falling behind by 36 points.

#3 Lungi Ngidi (5-39 in 4 rounds)

Experienced South African pacer Good luck Ranked third in the list of most expensive bowlers to take five wickets in men’s T20Is. In July 2022, he registered figures of 5-39 in the first of the three-match series against England in Bristol. However, that effort too failed, with England beating the Proteas by 41 runs.

England scored 234-6 in 20 overs. Ngidi batted early and Jos Buttler (22 off 7) missed a big hit. Jason Roy (8) was then bowled over by a slower ball. EnglandHowever, Jonny Bairstow (90 off 53) and Moeen Ali (52 off 18) fought back.

Ngidi scored his third goal when Moeen toed a shot past the goalkeeper. The Proteas pacer then dismissed Liam Livingstone (5) as he was caught behind a slower ball. Ngidi completed his five-wicket haul and Bairstow hit the ball deep into midwicket in the final over. The Proteas chased 235 points and the score to 193-8. Richard Gleeson took 3-51, while Reece Topley and Adil Rashid took two scalps each.

#2 Alzarri Joseph (5-40 in 4 rounds)

west indies pacer Alzarri Joseph Finds himself second on the list of most expensive five-wicket bowlers in men’s T20Is. In March 2023, in the third T20I of the three-match series in Johannesburg, he took 5-40 in four overs. Joseph’s efforts helped West Indies beat the Proteas by seven runs.

Batting first, the Windies posted a score of 220-8 before chasing the Proteas to 213-6. Joseph batted on the power play when Quinton de Kock (21 off 21) misdirected a slower pass to deep point. He also took big wickets David Miller (11 out of 11), who was caught at length. Joseph hit his third ball when Reeza Hendricks (83 of 44) holed a shot long.

(The 5 most expensive five-wicket hauls in men’s T20I history)

Joseph supplemented the scalp of Heinrich Klaasen (6) who played a complete pass to the diminutive third man. He completed a memorable five-wicket haul by dismissing Wayne Parnell (2) with a quick and comprehensive delivery. Joseph was deservedly named Man of the Match as West Indies won the match by a high score.

#1 Arshdeep Singh (5-51 in 4 rounds)

India’s left-arm pacer Arshdeep surpassed Joseph’s record by taking the most expensive five-wicket haul in the history of men’s T20Is. The Men in Blue Pacers won 5-51 in four rounds India In January 2025, New Zealand were defeated by 46 runs in the fifth T20I of the series.

The Indian bowlers got off to a poor start despite defending the target of 272 runs, with Finn Allen (80 off 38) going berserk. Ashdeep scored 17 runs in the opening over but also picked up the wicket of Tim Seifert (5), who chipped one into mid-wicket. In his second over, Arshdeep was scored for 23 while Allen hit four and a six.

However, the Indian seamer pulled off two counter-attacks in the 12th over to achieve a brilliant comeback. He forced Rachin Ravindra (30) to top the edge with a knuckleball. In the same over, Mitchell Santner (0) missed a pull. In the 16th over, Ashdeep dismissed Kyle Jamieson (9) and Daryl Mitchell (12, 26) to complete his five-wicket haul.