Young Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh has revealed a valuable piece of advice he received from senior teammate Mohammed Siraj, which has helped him navigate the challenges of red-ball cricket. The left-arm seamer, who is yet to make his Test debut, spoke about how Siraj's tip has enabled him to enjoy the "boring times" in the longer format of the game.
Arshdeep is currently participating in the Duleep Trophy match between North Zone and East Zone in Bengaluru. This will be his final competitive game before India's Asia Cup campaign commences on September 9 in Abu Dhabi. Arshdeep, a prominent figure in T20I cricket, where he is the leading wicket-taker for India, shared his insights on coping with the demanding aspects of red-ball cricket, especially when the pitch offers little assistance to fast bowlers.
"In Test cricket or red-ball cricket, there is a time when the day gets boring. In the session after lunch, mostly the ball doesn't do anything. So, how can you enjoy that?" Arshdeep said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "I spoke to [Mohammed] Siraj, and he told me that when nothing is happening, how you enjoy that phase would tell you how successful you could be in red-ball cricket. He gave me this small tip. I really liked it".
Arshdeep was part of the Indian squad for the five-Test series in England earlier this year. There was considerable anticipation among fans and former cricketers that he would finally make his Test debut and showcase his skills in the red-ball format. However, he did not get a call-up for the first three Tests, and his hopes were further dashed when he sustained a hand injury before the fourth Test in Manchester.
The 26-year-old also opened up about how he stayed motivated despite being excluded from the playing XI. Arshdeep said he focused on pushing his limits and adding more variations to his bowling arsenal to remain prepared for any opportunity that came his way. "When you are not playing, you just try to push your limits," he said. "The training is almost the same. You just put in more work when you are not playing".
Arshdeep also emphasized the importance of adapting to different formats and situations. "The mindset is about how quickly you can adapt," he said. "In today's cricket, a batsman can hit against the red ball and he can play conservatively against a white ball. So, it's all about how you can adapt according to the situation, according to the wicket, according to the weather, when you have to put in effort, when you have to conserve yourself".
Reflecting on his recent performances, Arshdeep said, "This game, I felt really good". "I worked on fitness as well and that helped me bowl a decent long spell. After 15-17 overs, my body feels well. It's [the ball] coming out really well. Not many wickets but yes, they will come as well in the future".
