Former India's star batter Suresh Raina feels Arshdeep Singh should have gone to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-2025 Test series against Australia. There were talks around Arshdeep Singh's inclusion in India's squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, he was ultimately not selected, with Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy making their Test debuts in the series against Australia.
Arshdeep Singh should have gone to Australia: Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina, during 'Champions' session of Agenda AajTak, said that Arshdeep has the potential to emulate the success of legendary Indian left-arm seamers like Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, and RP Singh in the Test format. Raina believes the left-arm pacer can make an impact in Test cricket too.
"After a long time, I saw a tall fast bowler from North India. He is six foot four, he has good swing, reverse swing. He gives it his all when bowling. From my heart, I am saying Arshdeep Singh should play Test cricket. He has a unique angle to flourish with the red ball. There was Zaheer Khan, then Ashish Nehra, RP Singh, Wasim Akram. Arshdeep has a wrist position and action that will suit Test match cricket," Raina said.
"He should have gone to Australia. But there are big series coming up. India are going to England. He will be useful in getting those breakthroughs with the new ball and the old ball. He has it in him," Raina added.
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Arshdeep Singh wants to play Test cricket for India
Talking about Arshdeep, he was instrumental in India's T20 World Cup 2024 title triumph. In a remarkably short span of just 60 matches, he has claimed 95 wickets, making him India's most successful fast bowler in T20I history. Notably, he was the joint-highest wicket taker in T20 World Cup 2024 with 17 wickets under his belt alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi.
Meanwhile, Arshdeep, who was retained by Punjab Kings for Rs 18 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, has expressed his ambition to play all three formats of cricket, including Test cricket. Reflecting on a conversation with Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep revealed that the Test vice-captain had inquired about his ambitions to play Test cricket.
While Arshdeep has made his mark in T20I and ODI cricket since his debut in July 2022, he is yet to receive a call-up to the Indian Test team.
"As a player, we all start with red balls. At the age-group level, we play only with the red ball. The first thing you hold is a red ball. It's fun bowling with the red ball because it swings at the start. And when you maintain it well, you can swing it when it's old also. It is a different joy," Arshdeep said.
"If you represent the country in all three formats, it's huge. I was speaking about this to Jasprit Bumrah once. He asked me, 'What is your mindset? Do you want to play all three formats?' I said, 'Yes, I am very keen on playing all three formats and I want to win more and more matches for India'," Arshdeep concluded.
Talking about Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which is levelled at 1-1 after first two matches, the first day of the third Test between India and Australia was called off due to incessant rain with just 13.2 overs bowled.
