Jasdeep Singh, the USA fast bowler, recently made headlines with his stellar performance for Washington Freedom, reigniting his cricketing career and silencing his doubters. Singh, who was overlooked for a Major League Cricket (MLC) contract for the 2024 season, showcased his talent by delivering a match-winning spell against the defending champions, MI New York.
An Unexpected Opportunity
Singh was poised to attend his felicitation ceremony in Jersey City, honoring his contributions to the USA’s historic World Cup campaign, when he received a pivotal call from Michael Klinger, Director of Cricket Operations at Washington Freedom. Klinger offered Singh a temporary spot in the team, filling in for Saurabh Netravalkar, who was on parental leave.
Just five days later, Singh’s outstanding performance in the match against MI New York proved Klinger’s decision right. Singh took 3 for 14, leading his team to a convincing victory. Reflecting on his journey, Singh told Cricbuzz, “I knew I had to work harder. I made changes in the way I trained and approached my bowling. I knew I had to amp up my pace.”
Transformative Training Regimen
Singh’s transformation didn’t happen overnight. After a tough outing against Quinton de Kock in his only MLC appearance last year, Singh had an epiphany. He significantly intensified his training regimen, increasing his bench press from 150 lbs to 350 lbs and adding extra hours to his gym sessions. “I focused on getting bulkier, adding more muscle mass,” Singh shared, underscoring his commitment to improvement.
On a surface that favored his pace and aggression, Singh unleashed his full potential against MI New York. His deliveries left batsmen like Monank Patel and Dewald Brevis struggling, with short balls that were nearly unplayable. “I had asked Ricky to allow me to bowl a bouncer or two every over as I was bowling with a bigger leg side boundary. He agreed in an instant and encouraged me to execute my game plans,” Singh recounted.
Overcoming Self-Doubt
Singh’s journey has been marked by moments of self-doubt and resilience. He vividly remembers the disappointment of being overlooked for the MLC supplemental draft while at the World Cup in Barbados. “It was heartbreaking. You start doubting yourself. Is there something wrong with me? What am I not doing? That self-doubt is the worst thing that you want to have,” he admitted.
Just before the MLC tournament began, Singh was called to be a net bowler at MI New York’s preparatory camp. However, the unexpected call from Klinger changed his plans, sparing him from a family trip to Canada. Singh had no expectations of playing until he received a message from Ricky Ponting, Washington Freedom’s coach, confirming his spot in the playing eleven. “It was quite strange. I was sitting with my USA teammates Monank and Shayan. Monank actually told me he had a feeling I might play tomorrow in place of Saurabh,” Singh recalled.
Ponting’s faith in Singh was rewarded with an exceptional performance. “Ricky just texted saying congratulations, you are debuting tomorrow for Washington Freedom. He pulled me to the side and said you were bloody awesome mate! And those words will always be in my ears,” Singh said, beaming with pride.
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