Left arm seamer Arshdeep Singh has been impressing with the red cherry which earned him his maiden call up in the Indian Test squad for a gruelling five-match Test series against England. His childhood coach, Jaswant Rai, who still works with him closely, in an exclusive conversation opened up on the left arm seamer’s preparations, what he’s doing differently ahead of the England series and Rahul Dravid’s advice to the young bowler.
Q: Can you explain about his preparations ahead of the England tour?
He had been preparing with a red ball for the past 1–1.5 years. He also went to play County cricket for Kent. That was always part of the plan. Rahul Dravid also played a vital role in his preparation, he said – If you want to see yourself playing Test, then you should play some cricket in England first.
After his return from Kent, he was practicing with both the red and white balls. It was quite difficult in the beginning for him to complete his four overs with the white ball and then bowl a long spell, but he slowly adapted himself.
I now think he is ready for a Test match. I will be really happy when he makes his debut for the Test team.
Q: How is he managing his workload?
He focuses a lot on his fitness. He is also mentally tough. He knows what he needs to do and what aspects he needs to work on. He also handles pressure really well.
Q: With Jasprit Bumrah set to play a maximum of three Tests, how important is Arshdeep’s inclusion in the team?
You always have an advantage with a left-arm seamer. He can swing the ball both ways, in and out. So he will give an edge to the team.
Q: What are some of the technical aspects that Arshdeep is working on? And what can he do differently in England from the rest of the bowlers?
His biggest strength is the fact that he can swing the ball, in and out, both. If he finds the right area to bowl in England, he can do well. He knows the pitches and the conditions well, since he’s been there last year. He can do really well for the team; he only has to bowl in the right areas.