India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I: Arshdeep Singh’s plan to bowl on flat pitches? ‘Take God’s name’
With the next six months seeing relentless T20 action in India, first at the World Cup starting next year and then in the IPL, pacer Arshdeep Singh needs a strategy to bowl on flat decks. So how does he go about it?
“The first thing I do is take God’s name, ‘The wicket’s looking flat. please save me,’” he quipped to reporters after India’s 48-run win over New Zealand in the first T20I in Nagpur on Wednesday.
“Before arriving anywhere we do plan a lot, our team meetings are all about planning for the conditions and trying to get the best of the batters. If you go by the plan, more often than not, wickets come even if a lot of runs are scored,” Arshdeep added.
The left-armer was one of the brighter spots in India’s bowling on Wednesday. Putting up a mammoth 239-run target allowed them to stay ahead of the scoreboard pressure at all times. Even so, a wicket off the second ball of the chase and a tight four-over spell of 1/31 made him the pick of India’s bowlers.
It was another performance that would be a feather in Arshdeep’s cap ahead of the T20 World Cup. In previous series, he has been in and out of the team, but that has not weighed on him as he prepares for the showpiece, ready to play whatever part he is assigned for India.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m in or out, bowling with new ball or old, or which format. The point is to always be ready to come and bowl my part and get wickets for India. I’m glad it’s working right now,” he said.
On his new-ball partner, normally Jasprit Bumrah but Hardik Pandya in this game, Arshdeep said: “We have always planned to be as flexible as possible, depending on the situation and pitch. It will continue to change accordingly.”
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