India has not had the best history with left-arm fast bowlers in the last few years. After the retirement of Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan and RP Singh, India has not had any left-arm pacer to rely on. However, that seems to be changing now with Arshdeep Singh doing well for the Indian team.
The 23-year-old pacer, who has been on fire since the Asia Cup, has continued his dominance in the 20-20 World Cup, taking seven wickets in three games. Arshdeep started the tournament well, taking 3/32 against Pakistan, including the prized wickets of Babar Azam for a golden duck. Arshdeep took 2/37 against the Netherlands, and he bowled out South Africa’s dangerous duo of Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw in three deliveries of the same over in the third match.
Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal compared Arshdeep’s bowling to the legendary Wasim Akram after being impressed by his stunning string of performances.
“Arshdeep Singh… what a bowler. By his wrists, you can’t figure out what he is going to bowl – which ball he’ll move away or which one he’ll bring back in. I think after Zaheer Khan, he is the first Indian bowler whose swing and pace is not predictable, as a batsman you can’t predetermine. He gets two to move away, and then gets one to jag back in. That is the ball which is very difficult to face. Agar aap Wasim Akram to dekhein, toh woh bilkul yehi karte thhe (If you remember, Wasim Akram used to do the exact same thing). Arshdeep bowled brilliantly,” Ajmal said on his YouTube channel.
He has gotten a role and he is defining it: Saeed Ajmal on Suryakumar Yadav
The former Pakistan spinner heaped equally high praise on Suryakumar Yadav for his counter-attacking innings of 60 off 40 balls. “There is one thing that stands out about Suryakumar Yadav. He has gotten a role and he is defining it. Every other India batter struggled on that bouncy surface but Suryakumar Yadav… the way he middled the ball, it was fearless. Excellent batting. He deserved to be where he is in the ICC rankings,” he added.
