"T20 gets easier after playing red ball" - Arshdeep Singh opens up on benefits of longer format ahead of 2nd IND vs BAN 2024 T20I
Team India left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh opened up on how it is easier to perform in the T20 format after playing red-ball cricket. The comments came ahead of the second T20I against Bangladesh in Delhi on October 9.
The 25-year-old continued his incredible run in T20Is by winning the Player of the Match award in the opening encounter against Bangladesh. Arshdeep was at his relentless best in the powerplay and the death, finishing with outstanding figures of 3/14 in 3.5 overs.
His heroics helped India restrict Bangladesh to a paltry 127 in their batting essay. The hosts chased the target down with ease in 11.5 overs with seven wickets in hand.
Arshdeep came into the series on the back of a solid 2024 Duleep Trophy campaign, finishing with 13 wickets at an average of 21 in three matches.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the second Bangladesh T20I, he said as quoted by Indian Express:
"T20 gets easier after playing red ball. Red ball teaches you patience, here (in T20s) you don’t need patience, you have to think about what a batter can do. I enjoy that we can see how quickly you can adapt to the conditions, ground dimensions and format."
Arshdeep Singh has been arguably the world's best T20I bowler since his debut in 2022, picking up 86 wickets in 53 matches - the most in this period.
The youngster was also the joint-leading wicket-taker of the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA that India won under the leadership of Rohit Sharma.
"My life mantra is to enjoy the present" - Arshdeep Singh on Indian Test selection
When asked about selection to the Indian Test squad for the upcoming Australian tour, Arshdeep Singh said he wanted to only focus on doing well in the present and not think about the future.
With a left-arm pacer a highly valued commodity, Yash Dayal got the nod ahead of Arshdeep for the recent Bangladesh home Tests.
"My life mantra is to enjoy the present. I don’t bother much about the future too much. Let others take the tension. I want to do my best in all the formats wherever I get the chance," said Arshdeep.
Arshdeep boasts a relatively impressive first-class record with 62 wickets in 19 games at an average of 29.67.
Meanwhile, India will play three Tests at home against New Zealand following the ongoing Bangladesh T20Is before the five-Test series in Australia, starting November 22.