T20 World Cup 2022: Moving on from Asia Cup nightmare, Arshdeep Singh redeems himself at Melbourne

The
23-year-old
was
subjected
to
severe
criticism
following
the
dropped
catch
in
a
Super
4
game
of
Asia
Cup
last
month
and
some
event
went
to
the
extent
of
calling
him
a

Khalistani.

“The
team
atmosphere
is
so
good
that
we
don’t
let
the
outside
noise
get
in.
We
enjoy
each
other’s
company,
stand
for
each
other
in
bad
times.
It
really
helps,”
Arshdeep
told
media
at
the
mixed
zone
after
India
pulled
off
a
thrilling
four-wicket
win
over
Pakistan
in
their
World
Cup
opener
at
Melbourne
on
Sunday.

ICC
T20
WORLD
CUP
SPECIAL
PAGE

Arshdeep
removed
Pakistan’s
in-form
openers
Babar
Azam
and
Mohammad
Rizwan
to
provide
a
perfect
start
to
India.

Asked
about
the
“challenges”
of
handling
two
high
pressure
games
in
the
space
of
two
months,
he
said,
“There’s
nothing
called
a
challenge
if
you
enjoy
your
game.

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“We
are
enjoying
our
cricket,
and
as
I
said
the
team
environment
is
really
good.
We
very
much
love
our
game
and
when
that
happens
you
enjoy
the
sport
and
there’s
no
challenge.”

“Personally,
I
also
enjoy
my
game.
Whenever
I
get
an
opportunity
I
try
to
stay
in
the
present.”
On
what
he
put
in
extra
to
be
mentally
tough,
he
said:
“I
didn’t
put
in
anything
extra,
I
just
try
to
keep
everything
simple.
Mainly,
I
don’t
think
much.”

Opening
the
bowling
alongside
the
veteran
Bhuvneshwar
Kumar,
Arshdeep
trapped
Babar
for
a
golden
duck
and
then
in
his
next
over
he
dismissed
Rizwan
to
set
the
early
momentum.

Chasing
161,
India
rode
on
Virat
Kohli’s
majestic
82
not
out
to
seal
a
four-wicket
in
a
last-ball
finish.

“Both
the
teams
are
playing
really
well.
As
a
youngster
you
really
love
it.
It
was
a
big
ground,
you’ve
to
run
hard.
it
also
challenges
you
physically
and
mentally
and
brings
out
the
best
in
you,”
he
added.

India’s
next
game
is
against
the
Netherlands
at
the
Sydney
Cricket
Ground
on
Thursday
(October
27)

(With
PTI
inputs)