Cricket is a funny game. Sometimes you get just the opposite of what you predict. Guess, that was the case with Arshdeep Singh, who, along with his fast-bowling partner Avesh Khan, wanted to restrict Proteas under 400, in the first India vs South Africa ODI in Johannesburg on Sunday.
But as the match started, Arshdeep, who is relatively new to the ODI format, claimed his maiden fifer to reduce the hosts to 116, their lowest total at home. “Axar (Patel), Avesh and I went for dinner last night and were discussing how brutal the Proteas can be when they wear pink jerseys, how they hit sixes,” Arshdeep recalled the conversation while talking to reporters after the match.
“We were just thinking about restricting them under 400, but when we saw purchase from the wicket, and a bit of moisture we just kept it simple and results fell in place.
Avesh also got four, which completely broke the back of the South African team. “We got early wickets. The credit goes to Avesh as well, as he took the pressure off me and got wickets.”
Meanwhile, this was only the second instance, when South Africa lost an ODI in the pink jersey. Meanwhile, the pink jersey has a special message, to raise awareness about breast cancer.
And with this innings, Arshdeep managed to shatter all doubters, if he’ll be a hit in the ODIs too. “Personally, I will rate this very highly. In ODIs, I didn’t have any wicket and to get a fifer directly, I’m really grateful,” he said.
“It’s not that type of wicket that you will get swing in the air. He (Mhambrey) told me how to get help off the wicket, seam around the ball, and beat the batsman with bounce. Also, on how to bowl with a scrambled seam, and grip the ball.
“Normally, I bowl a lot away from the crease. But I bowled close to the stumps so as to get more LBW and clean-bowled chances. These small, small things helped.”
County Stint at Kent Helped
He also went on to add that he learned from his stay in England, where he played county cricket. “My country stint wasn’t very fruitful, I didn’t get many wickets there, but it helped me understand my game, how I can contain the batters.
“I’ve learnt how to recover, how to train, how to maintain my fitness. Playing county helped me big time. It gives you that extra bit of confidence and self-belief.
“Even in the IPL, when you play with international superstars you believe that you belong to the stage. It becomes easier to blend at this level and perform.”
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