Arshdeep Singh

A member of the U-19 squad that lifted the World Cup in 2018, Arshdeep Singh is a left-arm pacer from Punjab. In the 2 games that he played in the tournament, Arshdeep impressed one and all with his pace and control with the new ball. A few months later, he was included in the Punjab U-23 team and he made an impact with the ball against Rajasthan taking 8 wickets including a hat-trick in the CK Nayudu Trophy. That spurred the selectors to include him in the state team for the Vijay Hazare 2018/19 and Arshdeep had a decent debut claiming 2 wickets against Himachal Pradesh. Next, he was called up for Punjab King’s trials where he proved his credentials as a death bowler which also tempted the franchise to rope him ahead of the IPL 2019 season. Punjab's constant chopping and changing meant that Arshdeep Singh earned a debut against Rajasthan Royals in his home ground at Mohali where the left-arm seamer accounted for two big guns of RR - Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane. It turned out to be an eventful debut for the youngster.

Arshdeep got only three games in his debut season for Punjab Kings, but he did well enough to get a retention. He gave them appreciating returns season on season, as he played eight games and picked up nine wickets in the 2020 season. The 2021 season was the best for Arshdeep, as he perfected the role of being a death overs specialist, and ended as the leading wicket-taker for PBKS. Arshdeep was one of the two players retained by PBKS ahead of the mega auction, and he proved his worth with another stellar display. Although the wickets dried out a bit in the 2022 season, Arshdeep nailed the art of bowling under pressure and delivering in the death overs. Despite bowling a lot of difficult overs in the 2022 season on pitches that were very batter friendly, Arshdeep managed an economy rate of 7.70.

The left-arm pacer’s skills at the death didn’t go unnoticed, as BCCI picked him amongst the traveling contingent for limited overs cricket. He had to wait a while before getting a debut, but when the opportunity presented itself he impressed with seven wickets in five games in an away series against West Indies, nabbing the Man of the Series award. Arshdeep was then picked for the 2022 Asia Cup, and was one of the standout performers in a rather forgettable campaign for India. Arshdeep didn’t let the void of Jasprit Bumrah’s absence be felt, as he took on the responsibility of being a death bowler.

Post the Asia Cup, Arshdeep played in the home T20Is against South Africa and Australia, nailing his place for the 2022 T20I World Cup. Despite traveling to Australia for the first time in his senior career, Arshdeep took to the new conditions like a duck to water, starting his campaign with 3/32 against Pakistan where he dismissed both Babar and Rizwan. Arshdeep ended the T20I World Cup as India’s leading wicket-taker, picking 10 in six matches and further enhancing his reputation as a death overs specialist.

One complaint about Arshdeep’s bowling however has been his indiscipline with regard to overstepping too frequently. Arshdeep’s no balls have cost India games against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, with many in the cricketing world coming down harsh on him. Still fairly young and a consistent death overs performer, Arshdeep could have a really bright Indian future if he can correct a few of those chinks in his armour.