Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra hailed Arshdeep Singh’s spell in the opening T20I against Bangladesh at the New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Gwalior on Sunday, which India won by seven wickets.
Singh returned with impressive figures of 3-14 in the 3.5 overs he bowled and played an instrumental role in skittling out the opposition at 127. The left-arm seamer accounted for Liton Kumer Das in the first over of the innings and then also dismissed Parvez Hossain Emon.
Singh also disturbed Mustafizur Rahman’s woodwork in the final over of the innings. The fast bowler from Punjab made his T20I debut against England in 2022 and since then he has scalped 86 wickets in 55 T20I matches, which is the most for any Indian bowler. In fact, none of the other bowlers have taken more than 50 wickets.
“Arshdeep Singh needs to be spoken about because of the way he bowls. He came with the new ball and picked up a wicket in the first over and then another wicket in the second over. He came in the end and bowled yorkers. In fact, no Indian bowler has taken more T20I wickets than him in the last two years,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator lauded Arshdeep Singh for his wicket-taking ability in the shortest format.
“He is excellent and picks up wickets at a good economy. It’s not that he proves very expensive. He did get hit for a four with the new ball but you should see his wicket-taking ability, skill level and understanding,” Chopra observed.
The former Delhi player added it is not easy to line up Arshdeep Singh as he is mostly right on the money with his line and length.
“There are two things. One is to bowl well, which many bowlers do, they won’t reach here if they don’t do that, but the understanding to pick up wickets is another. You cannot line him up. If you have hit a shot and you think he will bowl there only, he won’t bowl there,” he said.
Chopra lauded Singh for his bowling variations and also using them with guile at different stages of the match.
“He bowls bouncers in the middle and slower ones with the new ball. He bowls slightly wide lines and pitches it up to get it to swing as well. Let’s be honest, Litton Das’ shot was slightly ordinary, but then he dismissed the other opener, and bowled a yorker at the end. He was economical and picked up three wickets as well,” Chopra elaborated.
The second match of the series will be played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday.
