Ravichandran Ashwin urged the Indian team management to persist with Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI after the Punjab pacer bowled a terrific spell with the new ball in the first T20I against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9.
Arshdeep has had to miss quite a few games in recent times as the Indian team has opted to field a plethora of all-rounders in the playing XI. He played just two matches in the Asia Cup in September. During the subsequent tour of Australia,
Harshit Rana was picked ahead of him for the first two T20Is before Arshdeep replaced the right-arm pacer for the last three.
Many believed that Arshdeep would not be picked to play the first T20I against the Proteas, and Jasprit Bumrah would be the lone specialist pacer in action. However, not only did Arshdeep play the encounter but also made a mark, dismissing Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs in his first two overs inside the powerplay.
"Please don't drop Arshdeep Singh now. It is very important for him to be in the team. He showed that even today," R Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"I will call Arshdeep on my show 100 percent. When I was the Punjab Kings' captain, that was when he made his debut. He made his debut under my captaincy. Back then, he was very raw, he did not have control of his bowling. His strength has always been his attitude. He is ready for the fight. He should be a starter in every game, no matter what the conditions are," he added.
'He was not having the greatest of SMAT seasons' - Ashwin on Varun
R Ashwin was also elated to see his former Tamil Nadu teammate Varun Chakaravarthy returning to form. The ODI World Cup winner said that Varun didn't have a great time playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, against South Africa, the mystery spinner finished with figures of 2/19 in three overs.
"I am happy for the comeback of sorts that Varun Chakaravarthy made in this match. He was not having the greatest of SMAT seasons, but in India, there are always good players of spin, and the conditions are different everywhere. He will be very happy, and take a lot of confidence from this game," Ashwin said.
