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With 111 wickets in 73 T20 Internationals, Arshdeep Singh stays India’s most prolific wicket-taker within the shortest format.
Arshdeep Singh celebrates the dismissal of Devon Conway. (AP Photo)
Arshdeep Singh knows the right way to field difficult questions. When the left-arm pacer is just not plotting the autumn of his opponents on the sector along with his left-arm pace, he’s often cited using his quick wit to entertain teammates and fans alike.
And he brought a few of that humour to a post-match interaction with the media showing he’s mastered the art without rubbing anyone the incorrect way.
When asked if he’s been impacted by the constant chopping since Gautam Gambhir became head coach, Arshdeep responded, “Jaise primary team se out and in hota hoon uska advantage bhi hai. Mera ball bhi out and in jaata hai (Being out and in of the team has its own set of benefits. Like I’m out and in of the team, my ball can be coming in and going out). So I’m having fun with that.”
With 111 wickets in 73 T20 Internationals, Arshdeep stays India’s most prolific wicket-taker within the shortest format, although he has often been excluded for team mixtures since Gambhir took charge in July 2024.
In 2025, Arshdeep played in 13 out of 21 T20Is for India and was notably benched for much of the Asia Cup despite his impressive record.
Addressing a more serious note, the 26-year-old emphasised his skilled approach to selection and readiness.
“My job is to remain prepared and perform every time the team needs me to bowl in any format, with either the brand new or old ball. My aim is to benefit from the journey, remain in the current, and concentrate on what I can control. What’s beyond my control (selection), I shouldn’t worry about,” he said.
Arshdeep also discussed adapting to different match conditions and the challenges of bowling on placid tracks.
“On batting pitch, you end up praying, ‘Please God save me today’. Plans are made in team meetings, and on game day, our job is to execute them. For those who follow your plans and execute them well, you often get results,” he explained.
“We want to know what works on a selected pitch against specific batters. In the long run, try to be satisfied together with your strategy, and if it doesn’t work, adjustments might be made for the subsequent match.”
For the team, Arshdeep believes that flexibility, each mentally and tactically, is crucial.
“Strategy changes based on conditions. Plans are made considering the opposition, the full on the board, and we adapt accordingly. The hot button is to remain flexible, which is our team’s primary motto. Whether you’re called to bowl in the beginning, middle, or end, you want to remain ready.”
On a lighter note, Arshdeep shared that Abhishek Sharma prefers to not face him within the nets, something the pacer doesn’t mind.
“He (Abhishek) all the time says, ‘I don’t want to bat against you guys’. It’s useful for us that we don’t need to bowl to him. I’ve played loads of cricket with him, and it’s gratifying to see him excel at this level,” Arshdeep concluded.
With PTI Inputs
January 22, 2026, 12:52 IST
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