Arshdeep - adept at swinging it his way and rising to the occasion

The first men’s international in New Chandigarh was meant to be a joyous homecoming for three local players. Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Arshdeep Singh, Punjab's celebrated trio, carried high expectations, especially Arshdeep, India’s leading wicket-taker in Twenty20 Internationals. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the script flipped, and each player faced disappointment as South Africa defeated India by a crushing 51 runs, leveling the five-match series at 1-1.

Gill, struggling since his return to the T20 national side at the Asia Cup in the UAE in September, suffered his first golden duck. Abhishek's innings was short-lived, marked by two sixes in a quickfire 17 off eight balls. Arshdeep endured a particularly tough evening, conceding 54 runs in his four overs without taking a wicket, making it his second-most expensive spell in the format.

Contrastingly, just two nights before in Cuttack, Arshdeep showcased his prowess. During South Africa’s chase of 176, he dismissed Quinton de Kock in the first over on a challenging pitch. He followed up by taking the wicket of Tristan Stubbs, thanks to a superb catch by Jitesh Sharma. Arshdeep's bowling was incisive, demonstrating excellent swing with the new ball and maintaining impeccable control. His two-over spell (two for 14) proved so effective that he wasn't required to bowl again, as the rest of the Indian bowlers wrapped up the South African innings for a mere 74 runs.

India, having won the toss in New Chandigarh, chose to chase – a common strategy in modern 20-over cricket, especially with the significant dew factor in India during this period. South Africa proved a different beast compared to their 74 all-out performance, posting an impressive 213 for four, spearheaded by de Kock.

De Kock, who had scored his seventh ODI century against India in Visakhapatnam earlier in December, was eager to make an impact after a subsequent duck. His aggressive strokeplay put India under immense pressure. In that previous match, his century was in vain as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli powered the hosts to a nine-wicket victory with 61 balls remaining, chasing down a target of 271 with ease.

During Arshdeep's rare off-day in New Chandigarh, he conceded 20 runs in his initial two overs. Suryakumar Yadav brought him back in the 11th over, with South Africa at 90 for one. The 26-year-old, who had 107 wickets from 69 matches before this game, was tasked with breaking the growing 52-run partnership between de Kock and captain Aiden Markram. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. he ended up conceding 18 runs in a disastrous 13-ball over that included seven wides, four of which were consecutive, and six coming from seven deliveries.

The series of wides was triggered by a six from de Kock off the first ball, which he dispatched over long-off. This prompted Arshdeep to try and stay away from the left-hander's hitting zone, but in doing so, he repeatedly crossed the wide line outside off-stump. While not all were significant wides, umpires are generally reluctant to give bowlers the benefit of the doubt. Arshdeep's expressions shifted between disappointment and resignation, with a wry smile at one point, while head coach Gautam Gambhir appeared visibly frustrated in the dressing room. It remains unclear whether Gambhir was more upset by Arshdeep’s lack of control or the unfavorable calls against him.

Despite the initial six, Arshdeep conceded only five more runs off the bat in that over – three singles and a two. Normally, this would have resulted in an 11-run over, a decent recovery after the first-ball blow. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. the seven wides skewed the picture and forced India to bring an extra fielder inside the 30-yard circle for the final over due to slow over rate.

Arshdeep's ability to bounce back from setbacks is a defining characteristic displayed over the past three and a half years as an international cricketer. This resilience will help him move past this difficult night. In September 2022, he faced severe trolling and was labeled 'anti-national' after dropping Asif Ali off Ravi Bishnoi’s bowling during a Super Four match in the T20 Asia Cup in Dubai. Arshdeep bowled the final over but couldn't defend the required seven runs. The dropped catch ignited a social media storm, potentially crushing the young player. Instead, Arshdeep brushed it off, using the criticism to strengthen his resolve.

With unwavering support from his family and teammates, Arshdeep emerged stronger. He quickly became India’s leading pace bowler when the team opted to rotate out Bumrah, depending on the format's priority. As he gained experience, Arshdeep refined his skills and grew in confidence. While swing was his primary weapon in the PowerPlay, he also mastered bowling at the death, incorporating various slower deliveries honed through rigorous practice.

He soon became the preferred bowler for both Rohit and later Suryakumar when he took over as captain last July. Arshdeep's occasional absence from the team was more about adapting to conditions than questioning his abilities. For example, during the T20 Asia Cup in Dubai in September, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube were both available, and India wanted to field wrist-spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav. Consequently, Arshdeep only played in two matches – against Oman and Sri Lanka – after India had already qualified for the next stage and rested Bumrah.

Against Oman in Abu Dhabi, Arshdeep reached his 100th T20I wicket, becoming the fastest Indian to reach the milestone in his 64th outing. When Bumrah later achieved the same feat in Cuttack, Arshdeep might as well have welcomed him to the club.

Arshdeep possesses a balanced perspective and a wry sense of humor, allowing him to find positives in most situations. He uses failures as learning opportunities to improve his effectiveness as a T20 bowler. He understands the challenges bowlers face in a format that favors aggressive batting, but he sees opportunities where others see obstacles. He trusts his skills, knowing he can make an impact with swing when available and has the resources to outsmart batters at the death.

Matches like the one in New Chandigarh are part of the game, where margins are thin. A slight adjustment in length could have prevented some of the wides. Even when the wides piled up, Arshdeep maintained his plan instead of bowling straighter and risking being hit for boundaries. This demonstrates his unwavering approach, recognizing that the issue was execution, not strategy. Mullanpur will remain an isolated incident, but one from which Arshdeep will gain valuable insights as he aims for success in future matches, including those against South Africa, New Zealand, and at the World Cup.

Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup, India may continue to avoid fielding both Varun and Kuldeep in the same XI due to the anticipated dew conditions. If this is the case, Arshdeep will be relied upon to deliver early breakthroughs and perform well in the crucial final overs. Alongside Bumrah, he forms a potent combination, even though Bumrah receives more recognition. Thursday’s loss marked India’s first defeat when both played together in a 20-over game.