Harmeet Singh Bansal Praises Bowler Arshdeep Singh

Young Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is poised to make his debut in the ODI team, thanks to his impressive performances in domestic cricket. With uncertainty surrounding star pacer Jasprit Bumrah's injury and ongoing concerns about Mohammed Shami's fitness, who was selected for the IND vs ENG T20 series, Arshdeep is emerging as a strong contender. Mohammed Siraj, who accompanied Bumrah on the Australia tour, struggled to deliver consistent performances.

Punjab's bowling coach, Harmeet Singh Bansal, has recommended Arshdeep as a viable option during this time. He urged the selectors to review Arshdeep's spell in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before finalizing the team for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Bansal believes that Arshdeep, who took 20 wickets in the tournament, should be considered for the ODI squad, having already been selected for the T20s.

Bansal praised Arshdeep’s performance against Mumbai, the strongest team in the country. "In the match against Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Arshdeep took five of the top six batsmen. Even on a pitch that didn’t offer much support for seamers, he bowled well. I recommend the selectors watch his spell against Mumbai before finalizing the Champions Trophy team. He has the ability to swing the ball both ways and was brilliant throughout the tournament. If the pitch supports him, no one can stop him," Bansal remarked.

He also noted that it would have been ideal for Arshdeep to be selected for the Test series against Australia, emphasizing that India lacks a swing bowler apart from Bumrah. "If Arshdeep had been chosen, he would have been perfect for those pitches," Bansal added.

Arshdeep’s childhood coach, Jaswant Roy, recalled a conversation before the match against Mumbai, where Arshdeep expressed his determination to prove himself. "He said he would show his potential in that match. When facing tough opponents, he gets even more motivated. He delivered a great performance against Mumbai, and later against Maharashtra, where he clean-bowled Ruturaj Gaikwad. Arshdeep has the ability to play all three formats. Like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was effective with the new ball, Arshdeep can do wonders too. If you trust him, he can take quick wickets and dominate the opposition," Roy said.