Team India booked their place in the Super 8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 with a comfortable 7-wicket victory over the hosts, USA, at the Nassau County Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday. India orchestrated a comprehensive display, restricting the USA to a modest 110 for 8 wickets before chasing it down with ease, thanks to a stellar unbeaten half-century by Suryakumar Yadav.
Leading the bowling charge was the young left-arm pacer, Arshdeep Singh, who emerged as the undisputed hero of the match. His career-best bowling figures of 4-0-9-4 earned him the Player of the Match award and perfectly encapsulated his dominant performance.
Elated by his impactful display, Arshdeep Singh reflected on his outing at the post-match press conference. “Very, very happy with the performance,” he began, evidently pleased with his contribution. He acknowledged his previous struggles, stating, “In the last two games, I gave away a little more runs, wasn’t happy with that. The team always showed belief in me and kept backing me, I had to deliver for them.”
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Arshdeep’s impact was immediate. He etched his name in history as the first Indian bowler to claim a wicket off the very first ball of a T20 World Cup match, dismissing Shayan Jahangir. He doubled his tally by dismissing Andries Gous with the last ball of the opening over, leaving the USA reeling at 2 for 3.
Sharing his insights on the bowling conditions, Arshdeep Singh remarked, “The wicket is very conducive to fast bowlers and it’s helping us get some seam movement.” He further elaborated on the team’s plan, revealing, “The plan was simple, pitch it in the wicket and let the ball do the talking. Don’t give easy balls to score, our batsmen are also facing difficulties to score runs.”
Arshdeep Singh said, “Jassi bhai guided me on how to bowl on this pitch”. pic.twitter.com/yqKQOJcFX1
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 12, 2024
Arshdeep Singh continued his dominance throughout the innings, adding the scalps of Nitish Kumar and Harmeet Singh to complete his career-best figures.
“The plan was to hit the hard lengths,” he explained. “In conditions like this, you can use the wicket more,” he added, highlighting the effectiveness of his bowling strategy on the New York pitch. Recognizing the importance of consistency in high-pressure tournaments, Arshdeep emphasized the value of routines.
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“When you are playing international cricket, you need to have some routines and the way you take care of your body counts,” he stated. Confident in his approach, he concluded by expressing his determination to replicate his success in the upcoming matches: “All the bowlers have done extremely well, looking forward to doing the same in the next leg as well.”
With Arshdeep’s fiery bowling setting the tone and Suryakumar Yadav’s composed batting sealing the deal, India cruised into the Super 8s. Their journey towards the World Cup title continues.
