The Punjab-based fast bowler Arshdeep Singh unleashed a fire in the first T20I match against South Africa at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. He scalped three crucial wickets for the Men in Blue in the initial overs of the game.
This extraordinary spell helped him get the Player of the Match award. In the recently concluded Asia Cup 2022, the 23-year-old speedster had to face a lot of criticism after he dropped a catch against Pakistan. He was excluded from the T20 series against Australia.
Kamran Akmal, former Pakistan wicket-keeper was elated with Singh’s performance and said Arshdeep is the next Zaheer Khan.
“Arshdeep Singh is an incredible bowler. Mere khyaal se Indian team ko doosra Zaheer Khan mil gaya hai. Pace aur swing dono hain, aur samajhdaari se bowling karta hai. Mentally strong hai, usko pata hai uski ability kya hai, kaise condition ko use karna hai (I think the Indian team has found its next Zaheer Khan. Arshdeep has both, pace and swing, and he has that bowling intelligence. He's mentally strong and knows his abilities, and uses them according to the conditions.)," Akmal said on his official YouTube channel.
He further added, “Usne Rilee Russouw ko caught-behind karaaya, De Kock ko bowled kiya. Sabse achha approach David Miller ke against tha, bahar nikaalta raha aur ek inswing se bowled kiya. Unbelievable. Badi zabardast aur maturity ke saath bowling kiya hai. Pace hai, young bhi hai, good sign for Team India ki aisa bowler mila hai inko. Left armer ki zarurat bhi thi unko kyunki Zaheer ke baad koi aa nahi raha tha. (He dismissed Rilee Russouw caught-behind and bowled De Kock out. But the best wicket was that of David Miller because he kept getting the ball to move away from him before bowling a sharp inswinger to bowl him out. He bowls brilliantly and he is mature, has pace, and is still young. It's a good sign for Team India because they needed a left-arm fast bolwer after Zaheer Khan)”.