"Thank you for everything coach saab"- Arshdeep Singh completes six-year challenge with Rahul Dravid after T20 World Cup triumph
Indian fast bowler Arshdeep Singh took to X to share a picture with departing Indian head coach Rahul Dravid. The left-arm pacer played a crucial role in his team's win in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados on Saturday, June 29.
Arshdeep shared a picture where in the left half, he had posed with the 2018 U19 World Cup trophy and with then-head coach Dravid. Six years on, Arshdeep and Dravid took a picture together again, this time with the T20 World Cup trophy as seen in the right half of the photo.
Thanking Rahul Dravid for his contribution, Arshdeep Singh captioned the photo:
"2018➡️2024 Thank you for everything coach saab🙏🏼❤️"
Arshdeep was magnificent with the ball in the final against South Africa as he picked up the big wicket Aiden Markram upfront and then came back to dismiss Quinton de Kock at a crucial juncture in the game. He then bowled a sensational 19th over, conceding just four runs and ending up with figures of 2/20 from his four overs.
Arshdeep Singh's coach revealed Rahul Dravid's role in Kent stint
Arshdeep Singh's childhood coach Jaswant Rai revealed that Rahul Dravid helped the left-arm pacer land a County deal with Kent. Arshdeep had struggled in his debut ODI series against New Zealand in 2022 and Rai felt that the County stint helped Arshdeep become a lot better than just a T20 specialist dependant on variations.
He told The Indian Express:
"He (Arshdeep) developed that muscle memory in Kent. He bowled a lot of overs, it helped him understand the importance of hitting the length. That obsession with variations was distilled in his bowling. He was relying more on variations rather than hitting the good length. Rahul Dravid wanted him to play in the ODIs as well. He asked him to play more red ball and even helped him get that contract with the Kent."
Arshdeep Singh finished the T20 World Cup as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps at an economy rate of 7.16. If he is developed into an all-format bowler, it will keep Team India in good stead.