Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has urged team management not to drop Arshdeep Singh after the hosts won the first T20I against South Africa comprehensively by 101 runs at the Barabati Cricket Stadium, Cuttack on Tuesday.
India posted a par score of 175 runs on the board and Singh was able to provide an early breakthrough as he dismissed in-form Quinton de Kock in the first over.
Singh bowled a perfect outswinger to produce the left-hander’s outside edge. The left-arm pacer then accounted for Tristan Stubbs, this time getting the ball to swing back into the right-hander to take his inside edge.
Singh returned with impressive figures of 2-14 in the two overs he bowled. But, the Punjab pacer has failed to find regular chances in India’s playing XI despite being the team’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is.
“Please don’t drop Arshdeep Singh now. It is very important for him to be in the team. He showed that even today,” R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“I will call Arshdeep on my show 100 percent. When I was the Punjab Kings’ captain, that was when he made his debut. He made his debut under my captaincy. Back then, he was very raw, he did not have control of his bowling. His strength has always been his attitude. He is ready for the fight. He should be a starter in every game, no matter what the conditions are,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ashwin noted that Varun Chakravarthy was not having a great run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy but praised the mystery spinner for bouncing into form. Varun returned with impressive figures of 2-19 in three overs he bowled, accounting for Marco Jansen and Donovan Ferreira.
“I am happy for the comeback of sorts that Varun Chakaravarthy made in this match. He was not having the greatest of SMAT seasons, but in India, there are always good players of spin, and the conditions are different everywhere. He will be very happy, and take a lot of confidence from this game,” Ashwin said.
The second T20I between India and South Africa will be played at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, Chandigarh, on Thursday.
