Young Indian bowler Arshdeep Singh has emerged as one of the most consistent performers from the Indian set-up. He impressed one and all with his performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He then made his international debut against England this year and ever since then his stocks have continued to rise.
In the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2022, while most of the Indian bowlers failed to live up to the expectations, Arshdeep Singh made an impact on the biggest stage with his ability to swing the ball both ways. Playing his maiden World Cup, Arshdeep got off to a brilliant start as he dismissed Pakistan captain Babar Azam off the first ball in the tournament. And then there was no going back. He ended the marquee event as India’s top wicket-taker in the tournament with 10 wickets.
Meanwhile, legendary South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes, who has seen Singh’s rise for the Punjab Kings (PBKS) as their fielding coach, talked about the unnecessary pressure being put on Singh. He said it would be unfair to compare Singh with former Pakistan left-arm speedster Wasim Akram and it would only put more pressure on him. He said: “I think that’s putting him under a lot of pressure, to compare him to the great Wasim Akram, the sultan of swing,”
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.
“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.”
Furthermore, Rhodes went on to add that while a fantastic career awaits Singh, comparing young talents with the legends of the game only leads to unnecessary pressure. He said:
“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,”
