Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm medium pacer, is truly in contention to be the next big artifact in Indian cricket. The Guna-born Arshdeep Singh has verily galvanized the cricketing fraternity with his accuracy and trajectory.
Indian Cricket Team and left-arm pacers are nothing less than a convoluted tale. While India primarily leans on right-arm speedsters, some southpaws, namely Zaheer Khan, and Ashish Nehra have manoeuvred the Indian attack at regular intervals. Since the retirement of India’s illustrious left armers, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Irfan Pathan, and RP Singh the nation has had difficulty finding a worthy successor, until now.
In the recently concluded T20 World Cup, Arshdeep Singh captured headlines by becoming India’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament, outpacing India’s experienced campaigners such as Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The 23-year-old Arshdeep Singh claimed 10 wickets in the tournament in 6 matches with an average of 15.6.
Now, South African cricketer, Wayne Parnell, who also happens to be a left-arm bowler, praises Arshdeep Singh and believes Arshdeep Singh, who is going through a purple patch, could lead the current Indian attack going forward.
Arshdeep Singh Has a Different Class: Wayne Parnell
The Proteas pacer is currently in Abu Dhabi; representing Northern Warriors in T10 League. The left-arm medium-fast Parnell also has a commendable record in T10, where batters generally tyrannize.
Parnell has grabbed 10 wickets in 14 games at an average of 28.7 and has also flashed his talent with the bat by securing one half-century at a strike rate of 236. While speaking with ANI, Wayne Parnell acknowledged the versatility of Indian bowling and that Arshdeep Singh could lead the attack in the future.
Parnell said, “India has good bowling strength and when Bumrah is back he will cement his spot once again. They also have Bhubaneshwar Kumar and he is a very experienced bowler in their team. Arshdeep Singh could lead the Indian pace attack in the future as he has the potential to do well and his bowling has a different class.”
From an overall perspective, Arshdeep Singh has claimed 33 wickets so far in T20Is in 21 innings with an economy of 8.17 and a sterling dot ball percentage of 49.2. Moreover, while representing Punjab Kings, the spearhead Arshdeep Singh has collected 43 IPL wickets in as many matches at an economy of 8.23.
Meanwhile, Wayne Parnell also pointed out the qualification chances of South Africa in the upcoming World Cup 2023, which is to be hosted by India. Parnell believes that Proteas can still qualify for the World Cup by winning their next 4 ODIs.
The 33-year-old Parnell added that South African players are accustomed to the Indian settings since they have recently travelled there and competed in the IPL.
“Indian conditions are not foreign to us anymore. Many guys play in IPL, we will call on their experience to help us. Going forward we have the skill to go all way. Our team has been twice to India in the last few months,” Parnell quoted.
Arshdeep Singh has been rested for the upcoming Three-ODI tour against Bangladesh. Nonetheless, the left-arm pacer would be back in action in early January next year, when Sri Lanka tours India for a white-ball series.
