Arshdeep Singh, India’s lead T20I seamer after Jasprit Bumrah, has had a steady decline in numbers in his second year in international cricket, but it might not be as bad as it looks, writes Naman Agarwal.
When Arshdeep Singh made his T20I debut for India in July last year, his first five games yielded nine wickets at 6.05 runs per over. A left-arm seamer who could swing the ball both ways and bowl yorkers at will? India had hit the jackpot.
He had a successful first year in international cricket, taking 33 wickets from 21 T20Is at an economy rate of 8.17. No seamer has taken more wickets in fewer matches than him. India missed the services of Jasprit Bumrah in his T20 World Cup in 2022, but Arshdeep had developed into a reliable bowler by that time.
However, this year’s story was a little different. Some would think his total T20I figures for 2023 are pretty decent, with him taking 25 wickets at 23.7 in 19 matches. But its economy has taken a hit. Last year he went from 8.17 to 2023 he went up to 9.15.
Arshdeep has scored more than 10 runs an over in nine of the 19 matches he has played this year. He was particularly active in the series against Australia, scoring more than 10 runs in an over in each of his four matches played.
Fortunately for Arshdeep and India, the bowling strike rate in 2023 will still be an impressive 15.5 balls per wicket, a significant increase from the 13.3 balls required to pick a wicket last year. Wickets are still coming to him because there is no decline. However, there is a catch.
When he played last year, most of Arshdeep’s wickets came with new balls right after the start of the innings. He took 13 wickets in his first four overs, taking one wicket every 12.9 balls. His 14 of his 33 wickets have come from batsmen who play in the top three, where the best of his T20 batting line-ups are usually represented. He eliminated his opponents’ biggest threats early in the innings, making many of them look stupid in the process.
This year, he seems to have lost a bit of rhythm with the new ball. His first four overs of the innings brought him only six wickets, with each wicket requiring up to 28 balls, which was more than double his total last year. He looked better towards the end of the powerplay, picking up three wickets at 8.40 runs per over between overs five and six, but he lost some control of the swing and seam he made in the first few overs last year. It seems so.
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Apart from the power play numbers, Arshdeep’s death numbers have also taken a hit. Last year, they conceded just 8.86 runs at the death in T20Is, a far cry from the 10.54 runs per over they scored in 2023. The yorker, who brought success in IPL and T20I last year, has not been able to perform properly this year and it shows in the number of sixes he has hit. Last year, out of his 145 balls that Arshdeep bowled at the death, only sixes were hit on him, but this year already, in the 148 balls Arshdeep bowled at the death in T20Is, he hit 18 sixes. I’m forgiving him 6.
While the left-arm seamer’s decline in earnings was obvious, it’s misleading without context.
Arshdeep has played nine T20Is for India this year, compared to just two last year. And his T20Is for India are generally high-scoring events. In the nine matches Arshdeep played in 2023, his bowlers conceded an average of 9.06 runs per over. This includes seamers and spinners from all teams.
Considering only the fast bowlers, they scored an average of 9.96 runs per over. Arshdeep left at 10:18 am. Considering he almost exclusively bowls in the powerplay and at the death, there’s plenty of room for him without being crucified for it.
Arshdeep, on the other hand, had the advantage of playing in less flat conditions in 2022. His nine matches in Australia, England and New Zealand, his five matches in the United Arab Emirates, his five matches in the West Indies and America gave him enough support to shine .
The 2024 T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in the Caribbean and the United States. In 10 matches there, Arshdeep took 14 wickets at 7.87 runs per over. No other seamer has taken more wickets in T20Is for less in the last two years.
If Jasprit Bumrah is available, he will be the leader of India’s close attack in the tournament. However, next will be Arshdeep. Players will have to rely on his IPL 2024 to fine-tune the process and get back into rhythm as India won’t have many of his T20Is before the event. At the moment, it may seem like Arshdeep is on the verge of victory, but his downward trend isn’t as steep as it seems and it shouldn’t take long for him to turn things around.
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