NEWS
Follow UsArshdeep Singh has had a good 2024 T20 World Cup so far. The left-arm seamer has claimed seven wickets across three games at an average of 10.71 and an economy of 6.25. On June 12 (Wednesday) against the USA, Arshdeep took 4/9 and registered the best bowling figures for India in T20 World Cups.
The 25-year-old dismissed Shayan Jahangir and Andries Gous in the very first over and returned back in the second half of the innings to get rid of Nitish Kumar and Harmeet Singh. The USA could only manage 110/8, which India chased down in 18.2 overs with seven wickets to spare.
“It feels good when you perform good for the team and you get the right result as well. It feels really good, very happy - family was here and they were really happy with the performance as well," Arshdeep Singh said in the pre-match press conference.
“There was no change, the emotions stay the same. That's the talk in the dressing room as well. How to be in the same mood, irrespective of the result of the teams you play. Just try to be stable enough, whether we win or lose, and whether we have a good day or a bad day.”
Talking about Nitish’s wicket, where Mohammed Siraj took a stunning over-headed catch at deep square leg, Arshdeep said, “I was just hoping that it doesn't fly for a six because if it was in the ground, I was very sure that he'll catch it and I'll get the wicket. Nitish I guess, he hit it really well and I thought it was going for six but yes - it was a really nice catch.
“As a fielding unit, we are trying to improve one percent of whatever chance there are to get better at, so we are trying really hard with Dilip bhai (India’s fielding coach) to get better at whatever we can do . Like here, you can't throw one bounce, you have to throw on the full to the wicketkeeper. So, all these small things we just keep trying to get better at.”
India have now won all their three games and qualified for the Super 8s. They have batted first, they have bowled first and Arshdeep is happy with how India’s batting and bowling are clicking together. “The main thing is how we adapt to the conditions and to the situations. Either we are batting first or bowling first,” said Arshdeep.
“If there is help in the wicket, we try to get early wickets and restrict them to a low total and if we are batting first, we try to make as many as possible and give the bowlers good enough chance to restrict the opposition. Whatever we are doing, either batting or bowling, we just try to give our best and give the other option, give the other skill set enough chance to win the game.”
The 25-year-old also got a chance to bat in the last match against Pakistan and scored nine uselful runs. “We are always learning, always trying to get better at all the skills, be it bowling, batting, or fielding, because you never know when the team need those runs. It can be two runs, four runs, anything. So, you just have to give your best.
“I am trying to work as hard as possible with Vikram Bhai (batting coach) regarding my batting as well. And an instance from the last game, Jassi Bhai was supposed to go before me, but I just went in after asking Rohit. They were surprised with it, but now I told them I will go up regardless of whatever you say. I will go at nine because I faced the quickest bowlers in the last game. I am very confident about my batting. And be it fielding or bowling.”
The Men in Blue still have a group game remaining against Canada in Florida and the left-armer wants to focus on that instead of looking too far ahead. “I remember a quote Vikram Rathour told us in the team meeting that was like, stay where your feet are. So right now, we are just enjoying the win here and we fly to Florida next and we'll focus on the next game. So, whatever happens right now, we stay in the present and prepare for that.”
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