India's left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh created history at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg with a five-wicket haul in the first ODI of the three-ODI series against South Africa. Arshdeep became the first Indian pacer to take a fifer on South African soil against the Proteas in the format. After helping India bowl out Aiden Markram-led side for 116, Arshdeep revealed that during a dinner conversation with Avesh Khan on the eve of the ODI they discussed restricting them under 400.
"Axar (Patel), Avesh and I went for dinner last night and were discussing how brutal the Proteas can be when they wear pink jerseys, how they hit sixes," Arshdeep recalled the conversation while talking to reporters in the post-match interaction.
"We were just thinking about restricting them under 400, but when we saw purchase from the wicket, and a bit of moisture we just kept it simple and results fell in place.
“We got early wickets. The credit goes to Avesh as well, as he took the pressure off me and got wickets.”
While Arshdeep took a fifer, Avesh Khan took four wickets from the eight overs he bowled. On the other hand, Axar Patel did not get to bowl. India chased down the target of 117 with eight wickets in hand and 200 balls to spare to take a 1-0 lead in the series.
South African players sported pink jerseys to raise awareness about breast cancer. So far, they have sported the pink jerseys 11 times out of which the hosts have emerged victoriously on nine occasions. Former South Africa batter AB de Villiers scored the fastest ODI century at the same venue while sporting pink jersey. This is also India’s first win over South Africa when the latter have donned pink jerseys.
Arshdeep credited the bowling coach Paras Mhambrey for his success in Johannesburg where the conditions favoured his style of bowling.
"It's not that type of wickets that you will get swing in the air. He (Mhambrey) told me how to get help off the wicket, seam around the ball and beat the batsman with bounce. Also, on how to bowl with a scrambled seam, and grip the ball.
"Normally, I bowl a lot away from the crease. But I bowled close to the stumps so as to get more LBW and clean-bowled chances. These small, small things helped.
"There was a bit of purchase from the wicket. I just backed my plans and got good results," he added.
"In T20Is, batters try to hit you out of the park, so you have more chances to get wickets. Here, you have to bowl quality balls and be patient."
The 24-year-old also said that his experience in County cricket while playing for Kent gave him the confidence.
"My country stint wasn't very fruitful, I didn't get many wickets there, but it helped me understand my game, how I can contain the batters.
"I've learnt how to recover, how to train, how to maintain my fitness. Playing county helped me big time. It gives you that extra bit of confidence and self-belief.
"Even in the IPL, when you play with international superstars you believe that you belong to the stage. It becomes easier to blend at this level and perform."
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