"He, like Bumrah can be a very, very good bowler in red-ball cricket" - Sunil Gavaskar backs Arshdeep Singh to flourish in Tests
Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar believes left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh should represent India in Tests soon. His remarks came after Arshdeep produced a sensational spell of 4/9 in four overs against the USA in the 2024 T20 World Cup on Wednesday, June 12.
The 25-year-old bowled his trademark in-swinger to bag a wicket off the first ball of the contest. Arshdeep took off from there and finished with the best-ever figures by an Indian bowler in T20 World Cup history.
Talking to Star Sports after the India-USA clash, Gavaskar hailed Arshdeep and called on the selectors to look at him in the red-ball format.
"I do believe that he, like, Bumrah can be a very, very good bowler in red-ball cricket as well. Because if he can move the white ball so well, just imagine what he can do with the red ball. So I think the selection committee would do very well to look at him as an option for the red-ball game as well," said Gavaskar.
Arshdeep boasts a decent first-class record with 49 wickets at an average of 31.97 in 16 outings.
He has been India's go-to bowler thus far in the 2024 T20 World Cup with seven wickets in three games at an average of 10.71 and an economy of 6.25 in three games.
"His temperament is fantastic" - Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar praised Arshdeep Singh's temperament during his match-winning performance against the USA in New York.
The youngster picked up two wickets in the opening over to peg the co-hosts back, before bagging two crucial wickets later in the innings to restrict the USA to a sub-par 110/8 in 20 overs.
"He looked to bowl at hard lengths, looking to get the ball into the right-hander, and a little away for the left-handers. That's been his strength, to be able to get both those deliveries on the spot and he wasn't looking to bowl too many yorkers today, he was looking to bowl the hard lengths. And his temperament is fantastic," Gavaskar said in the same discussion.
Arshdeep boasts an impressive T20I record with 69 wickets at an average of under 20 and an economy rate of 8.45 in 47 games.
His heroics against the USA made it three consecutive wins for India and helped them qualify for the Super 8 stage.