Irfan Pathan Lauds Arshdeep Singh's Stellar Performance in T20I Against Australia
Irfan Pathan, the former Indian all-rounder, commended Arshdeep Singh for his outstanding performance in the third T20I match against Australia held in Hobart. Singh claimed three wickets for 35 runs in four overs, showcasing his consistent value since his debut, especially during powerplay overs. Pathan highlighted Singh's exceptional skills with the new ball, emphasizing his crucial role in the team. Singh's impressive bowling helped restrict Australia to 186 runs for 6 wickets in their allotted overs, contributing significantly to India's five-wicket victory and leveling the series at 1-1.
Pathan Highlights Arshdeep's Powerplay Excellence
"Arshdeep's inclusion was justified as he demonstrated his capabilities immediately. He has taken 45 wickets during powerplay overs, the highest for any player since his debut. This reinforces our belief that he is indispensable to the team," Pathan stated on his YouTube channel.
Challenges with the Old Ball
"He took crucial wickets of Travis Head and Inglis early on, and even in the death overs, he managed to secure another wicket. I had mentioned on social media that while he excelled with the new ball, the real test would come with the old ball. In his initial two overs, he conceded only 12 runs and took two wickets, but faced some challenges later, giving away 23 runs in his final two overs," he added.
Singh's Impressive Statistics
In his career spanning 66 matches, Singh has achieved 104 wickets with an average of 18.55 and an economy rate of 8.37, boasting best figures of 4/9 and two four-wicket hauls. His three-wicket performance earned him the Player of the Match accolade.
Pathan's Call to Retain Arshdeep
Pathan expressed his hope that Singh would not be dropped again, noting his commendable performances despite limited opportunities. He acknowledged the difficulty of returning to form after bowling yorkers, yet praised Singh for managing the pressure well. "It's crucial that he remains in the playing XI, especially after this performance," Pathan concluded.
Match Summary
In the match, India won the toss and chose to bowl first. Following Arshdeep Singh's stellar bowling, Australia managed to post 186 runs, aided by a significant partnership between Mitch Marsh and Tim David, and another between Marcus Stoinis and Matt Short. In response, India faced a challenging chase but was bolstered by contributions from Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tilak Varma. Ultimately, Washington Sundar's explosive 49 not out and Jitesh Sharma's support secured the win for India, leveling the series at 1-1 with two matches remaining.