Arshdeep Singh was retained by Punjab Kings for INR 4 crores ahead of the IPL 2022 auction.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) pacer Arshdeep Singh said that he is not thinking much about the money achieved through the retention for IPL 2022, but is building on and working hard to play for India.
Arshdeep Singh impressed everyone with his bowling in the IPL 2021. The left-arm pacer took 18 wickets in the season from 12 games and bowled exceptionally well at the death to help his team win.
On account of his performance in the cash-rich league, Arshdeep Singh was among the five net bowlers that travelled along with Team India to Sri Lanka for the white-ball series, earlier this year.
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He was also one among two players retained by Punjab Kings for IPL 2022. Arshdeep Singh after playing three seasons in IPL for his base price of INR 20 lakhs, was retained by the franchise for INR 4 Crores.
Arshdeep Singh, who is currently playing Vijay Hazare Trophy, admitted that playing IPL for Punjab Kings has given him a great platform to show his bowling abilities. He revealed that he picked the brains of his experienced teammates and that exposure helped him as a bowler.
He added that bowling to established cricketers like David Warner, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli brings the best out of the youngsters and he’ll do what he’s been doing and won’t be thinking about money but will try to live up to the expectations and win matches for his side.
“Punjab Kings has given me a great platform to show my bowling abilities and gain confidence in the past seasons. I have picked up so much from my seasoned and experienced team mates. The exposure has helped me as a bowler.
“When you bowl at established international cricketers like David Warner, AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli, you want to give your best. I’m going to do what I was doing earlier too, give my best and help win matches. I don’t do much math, not thinking about the money, but living up to the expectations and delivering,” Arshdeep Singh told Hindustan Times.
Singh said that Rahul Dravid, who coached him when he played for India U-19, wants him to make progress and bowl as per his natural abilities.
He also said that Paras Mhambrey helped him with his run-up. He revealed that during the UAE leg of IPL 2021 he ‘bumped’ into Zaheer Khan, who gave him useful inputs and that exposure helped him to become better.
“It is wonderful when you have a coach like Dravid sir and even Mhambrey sir. Dravid sir had been our coach when I played for India U-19. So, he has seen me from then. He wants me to constantly make progress and bowl using my natural abilities.
“Mhambrey sir worked on my run-up and it worked out nicely. Then I bumped into Zaheer Khan paaji in the UAE during IPL. He too gave me some useful inputs. Such exposure helps to become a better bowler,” he said.
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Arshdeep Singh, who has played only three Ranji matches for Punjab, said that he wants to play more Ranji matches and prove his mettle in the longer format as well. He revealed that he loves to bowl fast as it gives him a great high and his attitude will always keep him going.
“There is a lot of cricket happening this domestic season. I have played just three Ranji matches for Punjab. I want to play more and show my mettle in the longer format too. I just love to run fast and bowl a quick delivery. It gives me a great high when I mark my run-up and come in to bowl. This attitude will keep me going. I want to bowl the quickest,” he said.
Arshdeep’s overall record in IPL is very impressive as in 23 matches played for Punjab Kings, the left-arm has taken 30 wickets at an economy of 8.78.
(Hindustan Times inputs)