Arshdeep Singh

A young left-arm fast-bowler from Punjab, Arshdeep Singh’s biggest achievement, thus far, was to lift the U19 World Cup in 2018. Arshdeep only played two matches in the tournament picking up three wickets but showed immense potential. 

Along with the other pacers in the U19 squad, he was marked as a future prospect for Team India.

He made his List A debut for Punjab in the Vijay Hazare tournament on 19th September 2018 and later that year, his dream to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) came true when he was bought by the Kings XI Punjab (now known as Punjab Kings) at his base price of 20 lakhs. 

His IPL debut against Rajasthan Royals was a memorable one where he claimed two massive wickets of Jos Buttler and Ajinkya Rahane. Being a left-arm fast bowler and with the variety he brings to the table, has put Arshdeep on the top of the charts for Punjab Kings. 

Arshdeep’s recent performances in the IPL have caught the attention of everyone. The 21-year-old was the main reason for the resurrection of Punjab Kings in the second half of the IPL 2020. Under the leadership of KL Rahul, he bagged 9 wickets in 8 games, and his death bowling skills were impressive.

Being a left-arm fast bowler, Arshdeep lacked accuracy with pace but with the consultation of India’s star pacer Mohammed Shami, he improved a lot. Backed up by the entire management of Punjab Kings from the head coach Anil Kumble to the bowling coach Charl Langeveldt who took him under his wings and helped him build a decent profile in the IPL.

In July 2022, he finally earned his maiden India call-up and made his debut against England after consistent performances for the Kings in IPL. However, he was just a part of the first T20I and bagged two wickets.

With no Bumrah around the corner, Arshdeep filled the void in the Indian bowling attack in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He was India's leading wicket-taker with 10 scalps in the mega-event. 

In November 2022, the left-arm pacer made his ODI debut against New Zealand but returned wicketless and proved to be expensive.

While Arshdeep’s wickets tally witnessed a jump in IPL 2023, ending at the mark of 17th, he leaked runs at an economy of 9.70, raising concerns over his ability to bowl in the slog overs.

The pacer then went on to play the County Championship for Kent after being dropped from the ODI set-up closer to the World Cup 2023.

While Arshdeep’s exclusion from India’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad was on the expected lines, he instead brought the nation the glory as the Indian men’s cricket team won a gold medal in their debut appearance in the Asian Games. Arshdeep took four wickets in the tournament at an economy of 7.

After the World Cup, he returned to the ODI fold and was named the Player of the Series versus South Africa. He claimed 10 scalps, including a fifer, in three outings. He became the first Indian pacer and fourth overall from his country to bag a five-wicket haul against the Proteas in the ODI format. 

Due to his consistent run for India in the shortest format, Arshdeep Singh has received his second call-up for the T20 World Cup.

(As of May 2024)