Former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes heaped praise on Arshdeep Singh and said that the Indian pacer has great potential and could have a fantastic career at the highest level. However, Rhodes was against comparing Arshdeep with Pakistan's great Wasim Akram.
The Proteas great felt that comparing Arshdeep with one of the all-time fast bowlers, Akram, would only put a lot of pressure on the young Indian pacer and would not be helpful in his journey that has now only begun with Team India. He was recently seen in action at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Jonty Rhodes was quoted as saying by PTI: “I think that's putting him under a lot of pressure, to compare him to the great Wasim Akram, the sultan of swing. He's someone who has great potential and the possibility of having a fantastic career.”
He added, “Arshdeep has certainly grown in the last two years and that's been the case with the Indian fast bowlers. You look at a Bumrah and his progression was so so quick and Arshdeep has done the same, he is a young fast bowler, willing to learn and listen and he puts in the hard yards.”
The 53-year-old South African further said that Arshdeep swings the ball well and is a revelation for India in the death overs, but once again urged people not to compare the pacer with Akram.
Rhodes signed off by saying, “He does swing the ball and has been a revelation at the death. He's great in the powerplay, has got good control and he can come around the wicket like Wasim Akram effectively. He's someone who has great potential and possibility of having a fantastic career. But you start to compare players to the ones who played before them, that puts them under unnecessary pressure. He wants to be the best Arshdeep Singh.”
