Arshdeep successfully defended 20 runs in the last over on Sunday (November 02).
All of 22 years old and yet Team India pacer Arshdeep Singh has emerged as Rohit Sharma’s go-to man in the slog overs in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022.
Not even half a year of experience of playing at the highest level, yet he has established himself as a genuine wicket-taking bowler in the T20 World Cup. With 9 wickets in 4 games, he is India’s highest wicket-taker in the ongoing major event in Australia.
On Sunday (November 02), against Bangladesh in the rain-curtailed second innings, Arshdeep in his second over of the match took the crucial wickets of Shakib Al Hasan and Afif Hossain to virtually seal the victory for his team.
However, Rohit Sharma handed him the ball in the last over with the chasing side needing 20 off it. Needing 19 off 5, Arshdeep bowled a short of length delivery to Nurul Hasan which he pulled for a six.
While speaking to Yuzvendra Chahal in a recent BCCI video, the pacer admitted why he opted for the bouncer option.
“Bowling mein normally yorker ko back karna tha mujhe. Starting mein laga ki scoop khel sakte hai toh bouncer mardiya lekin kafi kuch idea nahi tha uske bad yehi tha ki yorker ko back kardu (I should have backed my yorker but I felt the batter will scoop me so I bowled the bouncer to him. It wasn’t a good idea but from there on I stuck to the yorker),” he revealed.
Hassan sliced him for four 2 balls later, bringing the equation down to seven off the final ball. The young seamer bowled one outside the off-stump while maintaining his composure and only conceded a run on the last ball.
With the upsurge of Arshdeep, India's quest for a solid left-arm seaming option following Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan's retirement is perhaps over.
The Men in Blue will next face Zimbabwe on Sunday (November 06) in Melbourne.
(BCCI INPUTS)