Star pacer Arshdeep Singh was one of the key players in India's undefeated run to victory at the T20 World Cup 2024. He finished the tournament as the joint-highest wicket-taker, tied with Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi, with a total of 17 dismissals. Arshdeep's ability to stay calm under pressure and his eagerness to learn have impressed former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja. India won the T20 World Cup on June 29th.
Raja highlighted Arshdeep's significant contribution to India's win. In the final against South Africa, Arshdeep bowled a crucial second-to-last over, giving away only four runs. He finished the match with impressive bowling figures of 2 wickets for 20 runs.
While Jasprit Bumrah, who was the tournament's best player with 15 wickets, was India's captain Rohit Sharma's go-to bowler, Raja praised Arshdeep for learning from the experienced pacer without being discouraged.
Arshdeep Singh better than Jasprit Bumrah?
“Bumrah ke hote hue, ye craft seekh bhi rahe hain, par unse dab nahi rahe hain (with Bumrah there, Arshdeep is learning from him and not feeling the pressure because of Bumrah's presence). It's very important for him to back himself and prove that he is on par with Bumrah, if not better than him. So, to challenge himself that way is very important for Arshdeep's growth, because if he will compete with the world's best bowler, then his own bowling will touch the sky,” Ramiz Raja said in his YouTube channel.
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja wasn't just impressed by Arshdeep Singh's overall performance; he specifically praised his ability to handle high-pressure moments. Raja highlighted Arshdeep's effectiveness in the crucial death overs, where his well-thought-out variations like slower balls and strategically placed length deliveries proved to be game-changers. Raja even went on to say that Arshdeep's bowling intelligence on the field makes him a truly valuable asset for the Indian cricket team.
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“He comes on to bowl in do-or-die situations (death overs), like if he doesn't deliver, the team will lose and he might be out of the squad. But he bowls cleverly, and to his field, when to bowl length balls, slower balls can bowl the slower bouncer as well. So, he offers a lot of advantage to his team,” he further added.
Ramiz Raja wrapped up his praise by commending the overall improvement in Indian bowling. He observed that their bowlers consistently develop their skills and avoid performance slumps. Raja highlighted the rising skillset and a strong learning mindset, which he particularly noticed in Arshdeep's bowling. Finally, the former Pakistan captain acknowledged the contributions of all Indian bowlers to their World Cup win. He admitted that some bowlers were targeted by the opposition, but overall, they performed well with disciplined bowling and smart tactics on flat pitches. These challenging surfaces truly tested the bowlers' skill, credibility, and overall ability during the high-pressure tournament.
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