Punjab’s bowling coach Gagandeep Singh has revealed that Arshdeep Singh was getting impatient as he couldn’t find a place in India’s playing XI in the recent Test series against England, as all other pacers managed at least one match, with even Anshul Kamboj playing a game who was flown in later.
There was no Test debut for Arshdeep Singh as he warmed the bench for the entirety of the England tour. Ace Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were sure-shot starters and Prasidh Krishna was prefered ahead of Arshdeep Singh.
Before the 4th Test match in Manchester, the left-arm pacer got injured and was ruled out of the game. Arshdeep Singh has so far played 21 first-class matches till now and has picked up 66 wickets at an average of 30.37 with two five-wicket hauls as well.
Gagandeep Singh’s views on Arshdeep Singh being impatient.
Speaking to Times of India, Gagandeep Singh said: “A few months ago, when he was in England, I spoke to him. He was getting impatient because he wasn’t getting a chance. I just told him, ‘You’ve got to wait for your time.”
Gagandeep Singh further added: “I think they should’ve played him in England because he’s a swing bowler and he’s tall, everything’s good. I don’t know the team combinations, probably the coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill weren’t confident about him.”
Gagandeep Singh lists out areas of improvement for Arshdeep Singh going forward.
The Punjab bowling coach Gagandeep Singh also felt that Arshdeep Singh should look to work more on his swing and accuracy in order to be a better bowler.
Gagandeep Singh said: “He can be a better bowler with more swing and more accuracy. I have not seen him in the last few months, but hopefully when I do, I can assess him better.”
Gagandeep Singh further added: “From the recent matches that I have observed, he can work more on line and length, yorker balls, and especially bouncers, which are the most effective deliveries in international cricket.”
Arshdeep Singh has been named in India’s team for the upcoming Asia Cup, which will start on September 9th in the UAE with defending champions beginning their campaign the following day on September 10th.
It remains to be seen when Arshdeep Singh gets a chance in Test cricket as that call-up could be a while away. India play now at home against West Indies and South Africa and with spinners expected to do bulk of the bowling, there will be less pacers on view and Arshdeep whether we like it or not is behind in the pecking order in Test cricket. Arshdeep must be a bit more patient in Test cricket one feels.
He now needs to forget Test cricket and focus on the upcoming assignment which is the T20 Asia Cup 2025 in UAE starting soon. Arshdeep has made his name in T20 cricket and T20I. Indian team management must and will give him a chance in the playing XI is what we feel and he deserves it, Remember, he is the leading wicket-taker for India in T20Is more than even ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. One hopes India plays him in all games in Asia Cup.
It will be a travesty of justice if Arshdeep Singh is benched for Asia Cup as in T20Is and even in the IPL, he has shown he is a gun bowler. Arshdeep should try and play all the games but it is totally the team management’s call because Gautam Gambhir and company have been known to make weird calls in the past. In Champions Trophy, 2025, Arshdeep was benched for the entire tournament and someone like Harshit Rana got games to play.
We do hope that this does not happen and he is the second seamer to Bumrah in the playing XI when the Asia Cup does get underway on September 9th.
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