IND vs SA T20 Series: India vs South Africa Live: Umran Malik owes a lot to Irfan Pathan. It was during his tenure as a coach-cum-player in Jammu & Kashmir when Umran improved leaps and bounds. Hence, it is expected that Irfan will back his student to make India debut. But the former India quick has backed Arshdeep Singh to “play all five matches against South Africa”. Follow IND vs SA Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Even though Umran Malik has got more wickets than Arshdeep Singh and has that X-factor due to his fast deliveries, what India needs is a death-overs specialist. Irfan said Arshdeep managed to keep hard-hitters like MS Dhoni and Hardik Pandya quiet in death-overs, making him a potent bowler.
“If you see the IPL numbers in terms of the wickets, the matches are more and the wickets are less, still the selectors backed him and picked him in the squad. There is a reason for that, he keeps the best batters quiet, when he bowls at the death, he keeps Dhoni, Hardik Pandya quiet, bowls consistent yorkers against the set batters,” Irfan Pathan was quoted as saying by India Today.
IND vs SA Live: Not his ward Umran Malik, Irfan Pathan backs Arshdeep Singh in SA series, says ‘He keeps Dhoni, Kohli quiet’
Arshdeep Singh bagged only 10 wickets in 14 matches. But in terms of death overs bowling, he was only behind Jasprit Bumrah in IPL 2022. In 11 matches, he conceded runs at an economy rate of just 7.58 in exchange for 4 wickets.
The other factor that Irfan backs is that Arshdeep is a left-arm pacer, something India lacks at the moment. Since Irfan Pathan, India have tried many left-arm pacers but haven’t had the success.
“You picked a left-arm bowler in your squad based on some thinking, because left is always right. So play him all the matches and he is a bowler who raises his hand for his team whenever there is a difficult situation, that he will bowl the yorkers and try to pick up wickets,” Irfan Pathan said.
IND vs SA Live: Not his ward Umran Malik, Irfan Pathan backs Arshdeep Singh in SA series, says ‘He keeps Dhoni, Kohli quiet’
IND vs SA Live: Will India pick Arshdeep Singh ahead of Umran Malik?
- With Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel certain to make the Playing XI, the battle is between Umran Mail and Arshdeep Singh.
- Umran Malik’s pace gives him the edge over Arshdeep. Umran has clocked 157KPH in IPL, highest by any Indian.
- But India have been longing for a death-overs specialist like Arshdeep Singh.
- Umran’s speed helped him get fast-tracked to Team India with many former players calling him for his inclusion in Tests.
- But despite his speed, it’s his lack of variation that works against Umran.
- South African batters who are well versed in playing fast deliveries will have no problem tackling Umran if he fails to deliver with accuracy.
IND vs SA Live: Not his ward Umran Malik, Irfan Pathan backs Arshdeep Singh in SA series, says ‘He keeps Dhoni, Kohli quiet’
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IND vs SA Live: Not his ward Umran Malik, Irfan Pathan backs Arshdeep Singh in SA series, says ‘He keeps Dhoni, Kohli quiet’
Even former India head coach Ravi Shastri echoed Irfan Pathan. He said India need a death-overs specialist to bowl yorkers and Arshdeep fits the bill.
“I think if Bhuvi plays, then Umran is better because Bhuvi can do a job for you at the death. But then again you are looking for someone at the death, they are looking to develop that bowler. So if Harshal is going to do that, he plays that game,” Ravi Shastri said.
IND vs SA Live: Not his ward Umran Malik, Irfan Pathan backs Arshdeep Singh in SA series, says ‘He keeps Dhoni, Kohli quiet’
India’s squad: KL Rahul (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain)(WK), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik.
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