"They keep their eyes shut when I bowl, I don’t know why"- Arshdeep Singh on family's superstitions during T20 World Cup 2024
Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh recently revealed that his family members don't watch him bowl, as they shut their eyes while he is running in. The left-arm pacer said it is some kind of superstition that his family follows. India won the 2024 T20 World Cup by beating South Africa in the final on June 29.
Arshdeep was baffled when he found out that no one in his family had watched him bowl, even when they were present in the stadium. However, he ended up understanding that it makes them happy as they feel they are contributing.
Speaking to The Indian Express, here's what Arshdeep Singh had to say:
"They keep their eyes shut when I bowl. I don’t know why. Who does these things when they are sitting in the stadium? My parents always say that whenever I bowl they close their eyes. I have told them what is the point of coming all this way. How would you get that feeling, what is going on in the match? I respect their superstitions. For them, closing their eyes while I am bowling is their contribution. It gives them happiness."
Arsheep Singh has already bowled on big occasions in his brief career, including a jam-packed MCG against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup and the penultimate over in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa. Comparing the two scenarios, the 25-year-old said:
"The feeling of bowling at MCG was very different. It was my first World Cup, I took a wicket in the first over. Bowling the 19th over was again something unreal. Here the game was on the line. Both were irreplaceable feelings. But this was more special considering it was the World Cup final. I enjoy bowling in touch and go situations."
Arshdeep Singh claimed that he relishes bowling in situations where the result could go either way because it gets the best out of him. He also revealed that captain Rohit Sharma backed him to focus on his basics during the penultimate over against the Proteas, where he gave away just four runs.
Arshdeep Singh on Rahul Dravid's contribution
Arshdeep Singh said he was shocked when he saw India's departing head coach Rahul Dravid let out all his emotions while hoisting the T20 World Cup trophy. However, he was delighted that Team India could give Dravid a fitting farewell.
On this, Arshdeep said:
"Rahul sir has always been like ice. He keeps writing something in his diary. He keeps a straight face in the tense situations as well. But what I saw after the final… it was like watching a different Rahul Dravid. The way he was screaming with the trophy. I was in disbelief. He has done so much for Indian cricket as a player and now as a coach. This was a long-due reward."
Rahul Dravid has been replaced by VVS Laxman as interim head coach for India's T20Is against Zimbabwe. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah recently confirmed that the new Indian head coach would start his tenure on the Sri Lanka tour later this month.