'Arshdeep wasn't utilised well in IPL': Ex-India star picks Arshdeep over Siraj in playing XI for WC

Former India pacer Rudra Pratap Singh believes that Arshdeep Singh was not properly utilized by the Punjab Kings during the just-concluded IPL 2024 season. Despite this, RP Singh sees great potential in the young left-arm pacer, particularly in the death overs, and suggests he should be included in the playing XI for the T20 World Cup over Mohammed Siraj.

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RP Singh explains why he would pick Arshdeep Singh over Siraj in T20 WC playing XI 

Arshdeep Singh managed to take 19 wickets in 14 games, but his economy rate of 10.03 reflects the challenges he faced, especially against the 'impact players.' RP Singh, India's bowling hero from the 2007 T20 World Cup, argues that the left-arm seamer's potential was not maximized during the IPL.

"If we assess Arshdeep on the basis of his IPL performance, I think he hasn't been utilised well," RP Singh said in response to a PTI query. 

RP Singh elaborated on the importance of a captain's role in a bowler's performance, highlighting the impact of strategic deployment. "The utilisation of the bowlers also depend on their captain, in which conditions he uses them, in which situation he makes them bowl and how best that he thinks his bowler is."

Looking ahead to the World Cup, RP Singh noted that the pitches at Nassau County are expected to be on the slower side, which would suit Arshdeep's style. He advised Arshdeep to focus on bowling cutters rather than pacey length deliveries to maximize his effectiveness.

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"Talking about the length on the tracks in USA during an early morning start, as per my understanding, there should a bit of slowness in the wicket. So, the ideal length will be somewhere around just short of good length.

"There will be not a lot of swing for the bowlers but the bowlers with variations, not only just yorkers but also slower ones, leg and off cutters. These deliveries will be utilised a bit more by Arshdeep, so the success rate will be automatically higher for him and that's what I understand the wickets in the US." RP feels that Jasprit Bumrah should ideally bowl three overs in the back-10 as that would put pressure on opposition batting unit.

"Death bowling is really important in T20 cricket. Bumrah may bowl three overs in the death. He is our mainstay there. My preference alongside Bumrah in the death is Arshdeep over Siraj because of the variations he has. I think Siraj can be impactful in a game when he is bowling with the new ball. Otherwise, it should be Bumrah and Arshdeep." Arshdeep, as a left-armer, will always create those difficult angles for right-handers and hence becomes an important cog in the wheel. The World T20 reserves also has another left-armer in Khaleel Ahmed.

"Left arm pacers are always an advantage especially against right-handed batters. It is not like two or more left-arm seamers can't play together. Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and I have played in multiple games together." For the perfect balance, Hardik Pandya needs to bowl his full quota of overs as it would give the team the luxury to play three specialist spinners and a chance to include Yuzvendra Chahal alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja in the eleven.

"Hardik bowled in the IPL and bowled four overs so there's no injury scare. Hardik's bowling will be important and he will have to bowl all his quota of 4-overs. If Shivam Dube bowls too, then it will be an added advantage for India ahead.

“Shivam may not play some matches initially but whenever he plays, he will perform well and score runs for India. ”

(With PTI inputs)