Arshdeep Singh To Shine In T20 World Cup Death Overs Over Siraj: RP Singh

Punjab Kings did not fully utilise young Arshdeep Singh during the recently concluded IPL, but the left-arm pacer could be highly effective during the death overs at the T20 World Cup alongside Jasprit Bumrah, according to former India pacer Rudra Pratap Singh.

Arshdeep Singh secured 19 wickets from 14 games but had an economy rate of 10.03, primarily due to the 'impact player' onslaught. RP Singh, India's bowling hero in the 2007 edition of the T20 World Cup in South Africa, stated he would prefer Arshdeep over Mohammed Siraj.

"If we assess Arshdeep on the basis of his IPL performance, I think he hasn't been utilised well," RP Singh said while responding to a PTI query during a promotional event where the Indian team's jersey was unveiled for the inaugural World Championship of Legends.

"The utilisation of the bowlers also depends on their captain, in which conditions he uses them, in which situation he makes them bowl and how best that he thinks his bowler is." RP Singh believes that the wicket at Nassau County will be on the slower side and Arshdeep should focus on cutters rather than pacey length deliveries.

"Talking about the length on the tracks in USA during an early morning start, as per my understanding, there should be a bit of slowness in the wicket. So, the ideal length will be somewhere around just short of good length," RP Singh explained.

"There will not be a lot of swing for the bowlers but those with variations, not only just yorkers but also slower ones, leg and off cutters. These deliveries will be utilised more by Arshdeep, so his success rate will automatically be higher," he added.

RP Singh feels that Jasprit Bumrah should ideally bowl three overs in the back-10 to put pressure on the opposition's batting unit. "Death bowling is really important in T20 cricket. Bumrah may bowl three overs in the death. He is our mainstay there," he said.

"My preference alongside Bumrah in the death is Arshdeep over Siraj because of the variations he has. I think Siraj can be impactful when he is bowling with the new ball. Otherwise, it should be Bumrah and Arshdeep." Arshdeep, as a left-armer, will always create difficult angles for right-handers and hence becomes an important cog in the wheel.

The World T20 reserves also include another left-armer in Khaleel Ahmed. "Left-arm pacers are always an advantage especially against right-handed batters. It is not like two or more left-arm seamers can't play together. Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and I have played multiple games together," RP Singh noted.

For perfect balance, Hardik Pandya needs to bowl his full quota of overs as it would give the team the luxury to play three specialist spinners and include Yuzvendra Chahal alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja in the eleven.

"Hardik bowled in the IPL and bowled four overs so there's no injury scare. Hardik's bowling will be important and he will have to bowl all his quota of four overs. If Shivam Dube bowls too, then it will be an added advantage for India ahead," RP Singh said.

"Shivam may not play some matches initially but whenever he plays, he will perform well and score runs for India," he concluded.