Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar praised left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh after his match-winning bowling performance against the United States of America (USA) in the T20 World Cup 2024. Sunil Gavaskar urged the selection committee to pick to Arshdeep Singh for the Indian team in the Test format.

Arshdeep Singh was instrumental in India’s victory over the United States of America at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday, June 12. The left-arm seamer picked up four wickets for just nine runs in his four overs. He bagged the ‘Man of the Match’ award in India’s seven-wicket win.

Arshdeep made a breakthrough by dismissing Shayan Jahangir in the first delivery of the match. He dismissed Andries Gous on the final delivery of the first over. He took the wickets of Nitish Kumar and Harmeet Singh in his second spell. The United States scored 110 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.

Arshdeep Singh’s temperament is fantastic – Sunil Gavaskar

Speaking on Star Sports after the USA-India match, Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that Arshdeep Singh did not aim for many yorkers but rather concentrated on maintaining hard lengths.

“He was looking to throw long distances, looking to get the ball to the right-hander and a little far for the left-handers. That has been his strength, being able to hit both throws in the spot and it wasn’t there.” “He wasn’t looking to bowl many yorkers today, he was looking to bowl difficult lengths and his temperament is fantastic,” Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

All-rounder Hardik Pandya took two wickets for 14 runs in his full quota of overs, including a maiden. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj were run out of wickets in the match. Axar Patel secured one wicket for 25 runs in three overs. Ravindra Jadeja did not throw a single pitch in yesterday’s game in New York.

Very very good bowler in Red Ball Cricket too – Sunil Gavaskar

The cricketer-turned-commentator expressed his belief that Arshdeep Singh has the potential to excel in red-ball cricket. He emphasized that Arshdeep’s ability to swing the white ball could work effectively with the red ball, comparing him to Jasprit Bumrah.

“I think he, Bumrah, can also be a very, very good bowler in red-ball cricket. Because if he can move the white ball so well, imagine what he can do with the red ball. So I think he selection committee would do well to consider him as an option for the red ball game as well,” Gavaskar concluded.

The Indian pacers have performed impressively in the New York stage of the tournament. Jasprit Bumrah won the Man of the Match award in the first two games. The Indian team management is likely to rest their key players for the final group stage match as they have secured a place in the Super 8 stage.

The Rohit Sharma-led team faces Canada in its final group stage match at the Turf Ground at Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida, on Saturday, June 15.

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