NEWS
Follow UsArshdeep Singh is only 23 but the left-arm seamer has already become Rohit Sharma’s go-to man in the shortest format of the game. After Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the 2022 T20 World Cup, the Men in Blue needed someone who could bowl in all three phases of the game and Arshdeep has done well so far to fill that void.
Having picked nine wickets in four games at an average of 14.66 and an economy rate of 8.25, Arshdeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament. The young paceman has been brilliant with the new ball and has also picked crucial wickets in the middle and death overs.
If we talk about India’s last game against Bangladesh, it was Arshdeep who claimed two wickets in one over and conceded only two runs to change the entire momentum of the game.
Speaking exclusively with Irfan Pathan on the Star Sports show ‘Follow the Blues’, Arshdeep said: "My focus was always on consistency. You cannot afford to give too many loose balls at the international level. I want to be good while bowling with the new ball and with the old ball. I want to pick wickets or control runs as per the need.
"Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach) worked with me on my run-up. He said, if I come straight, I will get more consistency with my line. You cannot afford bad lines on Australia wickets so I am putting efforts to come straight and I am able to see the results but I hope to do better.”
India were one of the first teams to arrive in Australia and even played a couple of warm-up games against Western Australia to get themselves acclimatised to the conditions.
“Entire team prepared well for the World Cup. We reached Perth around one week before and worked on our lengths because everyone had different lengths. So while practising we were able to figure out the lengths with bounce. I guess with good preparation we get good results.”
Rohit Sharma and Co. have won three of their four encounters so far but will still have to win their last group-stage game against Zimbabwe if they want to qualify for the semi-finals.
