Arshdeep Singh could be forgiven for chuckling at the vicissitudes of sport, at the fickleness of fans, at the yo-yoing scales of public following so early in his career.
A month and a half back, he was the subject of vile abuse, even being branded anti-national, all because he dropped a catch at the Asia Cup. Now, he is the toast of a nation, or, at least he should be, once it looks beyond Virat Kohli’s masterpiece, for his stirring role in the four-wicket conquest of the same opposition at the T20 World Cup.
The dropped catch at short third-man off Asif Ali was pivotal to Pakistan squeezing out a Super 4 victory in Dubai in early September, a result which, coupled with defeat to Sri Lanka in the next game, put India out of the running for a place in the final of the continental tournament.
Summarily castigated for an error no one wants to commit voluntarily, it was a big test of character for the 23-year-old. It’s an examination he has come through in flying colours, thanks to his own inner strength and the wonderful atmosphere of togetherness and empathy that pervades the Indian dressing room.
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In his very first face-off against Pakistan after that Asia Cup misadventure, Arshdeep covered himself in glory with a superb, incisive burst of left-arm pace. That he was entrusted with the new ball ahead of Mohammed Shami points to the thought process of the Indian brains-trust, which believes he has the skills to strike up top. Justifying the faith reposed in him, the young man ripped the heart out of the Pakistani batting on his World Cup debut, striking with his first ball of the competition to dismiss Babar Azam leg before and producing a peach of a short ball to account for the Pakistani captain’s opening partner, Mohammad Rizwan.
Babar and Rizwan have set stall as the engine room of the Pakistani batting, providing the starts that have helped tide over middle-order blues. Arshdeep’s mastery over the duo with deliveries of totally different hues pointed to a smart, active brain that’s clear in what the body should do, and perfect coordination between mind and body that allowed the latter to do the former’s bidding.
Arshdeep is renowned as a death-overs specialist, courtesy his exploits in the IPL for Punjab Kings. However, twice this month, including in the T20I against South Africa in Thiruvananthapuram, he has showcased his new-ball strike prowess too with a left-arm over angle that’s a massive plus for any attack.
In pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, Arshdeep brings the X-factor that skipper Rohit Sharma will only be too delighted to fall back on.
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