Bengaluru, August 26: Indian fast bowler Arshdeep Singh is currently participating in the Dilip Trophy. He played a crucial role in securing victory for the North Zone against the West Zone by taking four wickets. Arshdeep expressed his desire to prove that he possesses the skills and stamina necessary for Test cricket through his participation in such tournaments.
Having played 18 ODIs and 91 T20 internationals for India, Arshdeep is still awaiting his Test debut. Due to a focus on white-ball cricket, he has had limited opportunities in red-ball matches, leading to nearly a year-long wait between his 22nd and 23rd first-class games.
The quarter-final match against the West Zone in Bengaluru was a significant test for Arshdeep. He delivered consistent performances in both innings, achieving figures of 3/53 and 1/40, which helped North Zone secure a 52-run victory.
After the match, Arshdeep told ‘Cricinfo’, “I rarely get the chance to play red-ball cricket, and this was one such opportunity. I wanted to showcase my abilities and see how many overs I could bowl. I felt good rhythm. It had been a long time since I played red-ball cricket. I dedicated a lot of time to practice, and it felt great. My body is sore, but it’s a good pain because we won.”
The 27-year-old also mentioned that he altered his training regimen before the tournament, focusing on red-ball bowling after primarily playing white-ball cricket.
He added, “I knew the Dilip Trophy was coming up, so I practiced with the red ball. When the white-ball season approaches, you practice with the white ball. This training is very specific based on the type of season ahead.”
Arshdeep believes that red-ball cricket offers the best opportunity to challenge batsmen consistently. His head coach, Ajay Sharma, had advised him on this. He said, “Our head coach Ajay Sharma told me that even if you don’t take wickets with the new ball, you have the chance to come back in the second spell. That’s the beauty of red-ball cricket; it gives you another opportunity.”
Arshdeep has previously played county cricket, participating in five matches for Kent in 2023. He believes that the experience of playing red-ball cricket in England can be invaluable, but the busy schedule in India makes it challenging to return to county cricket.
He stated, “Whenever there’s a chance or time, playing county cricket in England is a great experience. However, due to the IPL, the domestic white-ball season, and other commitments, it’s not feasible to play county cricket right now. We have important matches here as well. We want to advance our domestic cricket and ensure its standard remains high. We all prefer to play here and give our best.”
Arshdeep noted that the pitch in Bengaluru presented a unique challenge. Despite cloudy skies, the pitch was favorable for spinners, prompting him to adjust his strategy and field placements instead of relying solely on traditional seam movement.
He remarked, “On such pitches, you need to use your brain. Sometimes you succeed, and other times, a shot can go for six. Therefore, you have to accept both situations and keep trying.”
He further explained that bowling on helpful pitches requires patience, while flat pitches demand better strategic thinking. Arshdeep concluded, “When the pitch offers assistance, and the ball seams or swings, you maintain patience and keep bowling at the right length. However, when the pitch behaves differently, with no specific assistance and only variable bounce, you have to adapt your fielding and try different approaches.”
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