Arshdeep Singh, who became the hero against Pakistan by defending 18 runs in the final over two days ago, had the support of his father. India and not him.
The Punjab-based left-arm seamer was on top of the world during last Sunday’s low-scoring India-Pakistan contest at the Nassau County Stadium. New York hosted one of the most thrilling and thrilling endings to an Indo-Pak match that went on to the last over of the game just as it had happened in the previous 2022 edition.
Back then it was the batsmen who came to the rescue, but this year it was the bowlers who saved the day for Rohit Sharma and 140 crore Indians. While Jasprit Bumrah became the game-changer with his man’s match-winning spell of 3/14, Arshdeep Singh was somehow one of the unsung heroes along with Mohammed Siraj.
Arshdeep Singh’s return from Asia Cup 2022 villain to T20 WC 2024 hero against Pakistan
Arshdeep Singh, in his short career, experienced his biggest setback when he first dropped a crucial catch and then failed to defend 7 runs in Asia Cup 2022. The match was against Pakistan and we all know how costly such mistakes are. Even if the team management forgives the players, the fans and 140 crore Indian rupees in India and more around the world will not.
For almost a few weeks, until the 2022 T20 World Cup came around, Arshdeep Singh was declared the villain for that largely missed catch. He had told a member of the Indian coaching staff about the sleepless night he had spent after the match. But even then he wasn’t worried about trolling or anything like that.
But he was worried about how to improve his yorker, which had become a complete draw in that over. That’s the sign of a good play and Arshdeep Singh is one of those guys. He took that energy from the 2022 Asia Cup and used it in the final in New York a couple of days ago.
“He shared that he doesn’t mind the trolls but was just thinking about his yorker attempt not becoming a full delivery.” – a member of the coaching staff had said.
Two years later, Arshdeep Singh went from being a villain to becoming a game-changer for the Indian team. Even if he had the highest economic rate that day, the closer was able to do his job perfectly.
Arshdeep Singh’s father’s reaction
Arshdeep Singh’s father felt proud after his son successfully defined the runs required in the game. He was asked to share his reaction in a video uploaded on the Instagram account of Arshdeep’s IPL team Punjab Kings. He first introduced the fast bowler’s entire family and then asked who he supported more: the team or his son.
Like a true countryman, Arshdeep Singh’s father responded that he puts the country first and his son second. “India first, son later.”