Arshdeep Singh’s T20I journey, marked by both struggles and glimpses of success, will reach a pivotal moment at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the upcoming match against Afghanistan. In his previous encounters with Australia, he managed to secure four wickets across as many matches, yet the inconsistency in his performance was evident as he conceded 41, 46, 44, and 40 runs in four overs in each respective game.
However, facing South Africa and Afghanistan proved more promising, with Arshdeep displaying improved form, claiming four wickets in four matches while maintaining a relatively acceptable overall economy of eight.
The left-arm pacer acknowledges the fluctuating nature of his performances from January 5, 2023, to January 14, 2024, where his economy rate oscillated between 7.5 and above 10. Despite the mixed bag of results, Arshdeep recognizes the value of his experience, particularly when handed the responsibility of bowling with the new ball in the absence of seasoned players like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj.
Arshdeep Singh said: “The last 12 months have been a mixed bag (of experience). There were a few good performances and I got to learn something new. There were a few ups and downs as well, making my performances neutral.”
He attributes his growth as a bowler to the clarity of roles within the team, even during phases where he faced challenges with the ball. As he prepares for the upcoming match, Arshdeep is optimistic about leveraging these experiences to overcome the latest test of his skills on the cricket field.
He further added: “Specifically, I recently started (bowling) with new ball, especially on slow wickets. In the last match, I tried a few variations, especially against left-handers, and it worked and it gave me some confidence. Otherwise, I am trying to sharpen my skills. Players’ roles are defined. As a bowler, you know, you have to bowl at the start and middle overs. When there is clarity, you come up with good performances.”
The Chinnaswamy Stadium frequently challenges a bowler’s abilities and stamina due to its flat pitch and compact boundaries. However, Arshdeep views this as a positive aspect. Despite India securing a 2-0 lead in the series, the 24-year-old emphasizes that both he and the team remain committed to pursuing further enhancements and improvements.
He concluded: “We feel there is nothing to lose here. Batsmen are under pressure because of the feeling that they have to score more boundaries and that is where as a bowler you are in the game. You can get more wickets.” Arshdeep also said he will focus on the World Cup only when the moment arrives, as other matches, including the IPL 2024, are dominating his thought process at the moment.”
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