Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh shared insights on his mindset and strategy when he took the new ball during India’s crushing 101-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I at Cuttack.

Invited to bat first, the Men in Blue posted a formidable 175/6 on the board, courtesy of all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s whirlwind 59 not out off 28 balls.

In reply, the Proteas innings folded for a paltry 74 in 12.3 overs. All the Indian bowlers used by captain Suryakumar Yadav managed to claim at least one wicket.

While the pace duo of Arshdeep and Jasprit Bumrah took wickets each, the spin twin of Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel bagged a couple of scalps as well. Hardik and his fellow seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube also troubled the South African batters, returning with wicket apiece.

Speaking after the game, Arshdeep, who dismissed Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs in the powerplay, said that his aim was to hit the seam and “get as much purchase off the wicket.”

“The thought process is simple: just go there and try to use as much help as there is in the wicket and try to get the team early wickets. I feel like if you were hitting the seam hard, there was something in the wicket, either it was bouncing more or seaming in or out. So the idea was to just hit the seam as hard as possible and get as much purchase off the wicket,” Arshdeep said.

“I bowled full, got a wicket. Then bowled full, went for a four. Then I knew I had to bowl short, got a wicket on that. Again bowled full, went for a four. So yeah, I was getting quick reminders there,” he added.

During the chase, Bumrah removed Dewald Brevis to complete 100 T20I wickets and became only the second Indian bowler, after Arshdeep, to achieve the feat.

When asked what message he conveyed to Bumrah on his achievement, Arshdeep replied, “I just told him ‘Welcome’ Congratulated him and told him, ‘Welcome to the club’.”

Speaking further about how the bowlers’ economical spells help ease the decision-making process for the team’ captain, Arshdeep remarked, “It makes life very easy for the captain as well. They can play around with the bowling combinations, whenever he wants Jassi (Bumrah) bhai to bowl three in the powerplay or me to bowl three in the powerplay. We just try to give him as much flexibility as possible and we are enjoying each others company. I mean, I am just trying to enjoy the present and just have fun. Its a very rare you get to play on these kinds of wickets where there are seam and swing on offer. So I just try to stay patient, not get too excited seeing help in the wicket, stay disciplined and enjoy whatever is there are.”

(With IANS Inputs)