Arshdeep Singh was the most capped T20I player from Indian men’s cricket team in 2023 having played in 21 of their 23 matches through the calendar year. Expectedly, he was India’s leading wicket-taker in the format with 26 scalps but he also leaked runs at an economy of 9.26.
Arshdeep forms an intrinsic part of India’ T20I plans with the world cup now six months away and the young pacer acknowledges that the past 12 months haven’t been all rosy and the experience has put him in good stead.
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During the Australia T20I series at home last year, Arshdeep took four wickets in four games but conceded runs at over an economy of 10 in each of those. In his next four matches (two against South Africa and two against Afghanistan), he took four more wickets and the economy dropped down to eight.
“The last 12 months have been a mixed bag,” Arshdeep said ahead of the third T20I between India and Afghanistan in Bengaluru. “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.”
With the responsibility to bowl with the new ball falling on his shoulders in the absence of senior pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep has been experimenting with variations some of which have yielded positive results and thus boosting his confidence.
“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,” Arshdeep said.
“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,” he added.
With India having already taken a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, Arshdeep says there will be no change in intensity with the players continuing their efforts to improve skills.
“Mindset as a team doesn’t work on what the series scoreline and what happened in the last matches. The main motive is to get used to the ground, adapt quickly. We can look at improving and developing match skills,” Arshdeep said.
M Chinnaswamy Stadium is a venue known for its batting friendly pitch and short boundaries but Arshdeep feels that it instead is an advantage for the bowlers with the batters under pressure to score big in friendly conditions.
“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,” he said.
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