An astonishing 496 runs were scored in 39.4 overs during the fifth T20I between India and New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram. Quite clearly, it was a nightmare for the bowlers who were carted all around
the park. Even a bowler of Jasprit Bumrah’s calibre wasn’t spared as he returned his worst figures of T20I career – 0/58 from four overs.
For Arshdeep Singh, India’s most prolific wicket-taker in T20I history, it was a match of two halves. In his first two overs, the left-arm pacer was creamed for 40 runs as he managed to take a solitary wicket. The next two overs were quite opposite as he bounced back and conceded just 11 runs in them while picking up four wickets to claim his maiden five-wicket haul of T20I career.
He finished with 5/51 from four overs as India survived an early New Zealand onslaught to defend 272 and secure a 46-run win to clinch the five-match series 4-1.
The 26-year-old rarely loses his cool on the field and when asked during a post-match interaction when former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta asked him how he manages to stay calm, the response was quite refreshing.
“It’s just for the camera that I look calm – I’m definitely feeling the pressure as well,” Arshdeep admitted, leaving Dasgupta in splits.
The five-match series was dominated by the batters and Arshdeep has been trying to find answers with the help of India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel, how to plug the leakage of runs.
“Lately, I’ve been going for quite a few runs, so I’m just trying to work that out with Morne (Morkel) and give my best for the team,” said Arshdeep.
Arshdeep said his latest performance has taught him not to dwell too much on the past and focus on the present.
“It was a great learning for me as well – to stay in the game and not think about what happened in the past or in the first spell. That was the message from the coaching staff. I just wanted to stay in the present and do what was right in front of me,” he said.
