Follow UsThough Arshdeep Singh is yet to make his Test debut and has played only nine ODIs, the 26-year-old left-arm pacer has emerged as one of India’s premier fast bowlers in T20Is, alongside Jasprit Bumrah. In just over three years since his T20I debut, Arshdeep has become India’s leading wicket-taker in the format.
He has claimed 101 wickets in 65 T20Is at an economy rate of 8.37, making him the only Indian bowler with more than 100 T20I scalps. His strike rate of 13.34 is the second-best among bowlers with 100 or more wickets, and he is the fourth fastest overall to reach the milestone, behind Rashid, Sandeep Lamichhane, and Wanindu Hasaranga.
Arshdeep, who made his state debut for Punjab in 2018, recently appeared on Gaurav Kapur’s YouTube show “Breakfast with Champions”, where he shared stories from his childhood, including how his mother used to take him to coaching before he got a bicycle.
“Yes, my mom [used to take me to coaching]. My school was in one place, and the academy was in a different place… This is my academy, this is the school. So at school, I had my lunch box, and my mom used to drop me off at the academy on her scooter. And when the academy finished, she would pick me up. Our house was nearby at that time,” said Arshdeep.
“Then I grew up. So I started going by bus, the 15-kilometre journey. Now our house is here (a bit far). We shifted. First, we were in a rented place, then by God's grace, we got a house, so we're here. So I'm coming by bus from there. The bus travel is very hectic. I was hanging outside sometimes, completely. I thought, if I fall, what will be left of me? It's even more difficult in winter. You don't get a seat; you have to stand. So I told my family to get me a bicycle. I would have my own seat, right? I could sit whenever I wanted, and I could stand whenever I wanted.”
Arshdeep also revealed how his father motivated him to cycle long distances to build strength. “So, dad gave me extra motivation. ‘If you go on a cycle, your thighs will get strong.’ Nice. I was thinking, my thighs will get strong, and I've always had a craze for thighs. We saw Ronaldo’s thighs. I've had a craze for thighs from the beginning. So then I started cycling. I would easily cover 28-30 kilometres a day.”
When asked if he ever got bored cycling so much, Arshdeep shared a funny and relatable story.
“How will you get bored, paaji? Don't you do this? That car must not get ahead of me. I mean, You'll lose to a car. But here's that pole coming up. A bike is coming from there. I just have to reach the pole before it. Otherwise, I won't get wickets. Just a small target, right? Yeah, I have to beat that guy.
“What's the problem if I lose? No worries. The next car will come anyway. We're going a long way, right? But yes, this is the deal, completely.”
Arshdeep also spoke about the friendly rivalry he shares with his father, who bowls right-arm seam in local corporate tournaments. “Dad usually doesn't say anything after a good match. Dad plays corporate games on Saturday and Sunday. He used to play them in his youth too. He played Inter-University and all, then he got a job and had to quit. But now he's interested again. So he goes on Saturday and Sunday and bowls his sweet out-swingers.
“Dad is a right-hander. So dad bowls out-swing from the right, and I bowl in-swing from the left. So there's a different competition going on there. Before the match, he sends his stats. ‘Hey, I bowled four overs, gave 19 runs, and took two wickets. Do better than me.’”
Adding further, Arshdeep shared how his father continues to push him, even sending immediate messages when he has a bad game. “And the day I get hit for runs, he sends a message immediately, ‘Who will bowl the wide yorker? I know he's waiting for the one in the middle.’ Oh, Dad, it doesn't work like that! The corporate guys don't hit the same way as they do here. Here, the ball is going for sixes off the bottom edge. So the class starts immediately.
“Now, everyone at home is my bowling coach. Now I get fewer messages from the coach. They come from home first.”
Arshdeep will next be seen in action during the tour of Australia, starting on October 19. The Men in Blue are scheduled to play three ODIs and five T20Is, and Arshdeep has been picked in both squads.