India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh is having a great time in the ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia. He has taken seven wickets at an economy rate of 7.83 in three games so far.
In India’s tournament opener against Pakistan, Arshdeep returned with the figures of 3-32 in his four overs, including the prized scalps of Babar Azam (0) and Mohammad Rizwan (4).
The left-arm pacer claimed two wickets by conceding 37 runs in his four overs against Netherlands, while he once again displayed brilliance in the game versus South Africa at Perth on Sunday (October 30), removing top batters like Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw and finished with the figures of 2/25.
After the game, Arshdeep Singh credited his success in the T20 World Cup 2022 to senior bowling partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar who, he feels, has been creating relentless pressure in powerplay overs which has made it easier for him to get wickets.
While Bhuvneshwar has picked only three wickets in as many games, he has bowled with a remarkable economy rate of 4.87.
"We study the batters' weaknesses and myself and Bhuvi bhai try to get some swing first up and beat the batter at start. I'm able to attack the batter because Bhuvi bhai is bowling so economically that the batter is already under pressure," Arshdeep told reporters after India's five-wicket defeat to South Africa.
"Credit for my success goes to him. The batters aren't taking chances against him (Bhuvneshwar) and are doing that with me. So we have forged a good partnership. A bowling partnership is as important as batting partnership," he added.
The 23-year-old further said that taking wickets in initial overs has boosted his confidence.
"You feel confident when you get wickets first up and team also feels confident of your abilities."
Arshdeep termed the Perth pitch as a dream for any fast bowler and the spiciest he has bowled in his career so far.
"It was great track to bowl on. It was a dream wicket for any fast bowler and perhaps the spiciest of the tracks I have bowled so far in my career," he stated.
However, there is no ideal length applicable to all the bowlers in such tracks.
"Ideal length will change for every bowler on this track. The day ball swings around a bit, you would like to bowl that fullish length and when there is no purchase from the track, then you bowl normal hard lengths.
"Both teams used the wicket pretty well and used the hard lengths to execute their plans."
When South Africa needed 25 off the last three overs, skipper Rohit Sharma gave the ball to Ashwin, who was smashed for 13 runs in the 18th over and the task became easy for the Proteas.
Arshdeep Singh defended Rohit’s decision to give Ashwin the 18th over, saying: "If you are playing five bowlers, wherever Rohit bhai felt that he should bring in Ashwin he did that."
Earlier, Indian batters found it tough to cope with extra pace, bounce and movement as the team posted 133/9 in 20 overs. Suryakumar Yadav was the lone bright spot, scoring 68 off 40 balls.
When asked whether 145 could have been a defendable target on this track, Arshdeep said: "That's a case of ifs and buts. May be 133 would have been good enough and at times even 160 seems less. So unless you score 145, you wouldn't be knowing."
(With PTI inputs)
