Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm pacer, has been reflecting on his performances over the past year, describing it as a “mixed bag” and expressing his determination to enhance his consistency. Despite being the most prolific Indian bowler in T20Is since January 2023, with 29 wickets at an average of 24.00 and an economy rate of 9.07, Arshdeep acknowledges that he has been inconsistent in his displays.
“It’s been a mixed bag, these last 12 months,” Arshdeep stated ahead of India‘s third and final T20I against Afghanistan in Bengaluru. “There have been good performances, some average ones. I’d say that I have learned a lot and that experience is helping my game get a lot better. I am quite grateful that I am getting this experience, I have been getting a lot of backing from the support staff, from the team. I just want to reduce the ups and downs and be more consistent with my performances and get better results for my team.”
Reflecting on his recent experiences in Bengaluru, where he previously felt the pressure of potentially being the “culprit of the game,” Arshdeep highlighted his role in defending nine runs in the final over against Australia, securing a series victory for India.
Looking ahead, Arshdeep emphasized that the team’s focus is on continuous improvement rather than the series scoreline. “Our motive is to determine what the conditions will be like in the matches ahead of us and how quickly we can adapt to the pitch and get used to the grounds,” he explained. “Our aim is to improve our game one-two percent after every game and develop new skills.”
Arshdeep revealed that he is working on developing a new delivery that would be advantageous on slower wickets. “I have been working on a new ball, which will be beneficial on slower wickets,” he shared. “I tried that ball in the last match against the lefties, the ball that moves away after pitching like a leg-cutter. I want to develop more confidence and use that ball more in matches.”
Despite a mixed series performance, including going wicketless in the first T20I but claiming 3 for 32 in Indore, Arshdeep remains optimistic about his prospects at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. He views the venue’s short boundaries and flat wicket as an opportunity for bowlers to put pressure on batsmen, stating, “The batsmen are under pressure, they feel that they have to score more and more boundaries, and that is where, as a bowler, you are in the game and can get wickets.”
Meanwhile, Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott provided an update on Rashid Khan‘s recovery from a minor back surgery, emphasizing the importance of not rushing his return to the field.
“It is a case of us making sure that we are really careful with his back,” Trott explained. “He is such an influential player, we have to make sure he is 100% ready and not rush him back from that type of surgery.”
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