Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra said Arshdeep Singh’s indifferent performance in the Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) IPL 2024 clash against the Mumbai Indians (MI) can be a concern for India heading into the T20 World Cup. However, Arshdeep went wicketless and gave away 35 runs in his three overs as the Mumbai Indians posted a 193-run target in Mullanpur on Thursday, April 18 as well.
Reviewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Harshal Patel picked up three wickets because he likes such pitches where the ball grips the surface when you roll your fingers over it. I am slightly disappointed with Arshdeep. It seemed like he wasn’t bowling that fast. The rhythm and sharpness were not seen.”
“It is a worry. Whatever happens to Punjab, so be it, we are worried about India. He is our second bowler for the T20 World Cup. (Jasprit) Bumrah from one end and Arsh has to bowl from the other end. So if Arsh has to do that, his rhythm is very critical for me and he didn’t look in that rhythm,” he further added.
However, Arshdeep Singh has claimed nine wickets in seven games for PBKS in IPL 2024. He has been quite expensive, giving away an average of 9.53 runs per over. While talking about the Mumbai Indians’ batting, Aakash Chopra praised Suryakumar Yadav for scoring another fifty. He hit seven fours and three sixes in his 78-run knock.
“Ishan Kishan – it wasn’t a wicket-taking ball. He hit a wide ball straight into deep point’s hands. SKY came to join Rohit Sharma. Suryakumar Yadav likes Punjab a lot. He has scored more than 50 in his last three innings against them. Whenever he comes in front of Punjab, he hits fours and sixes very well,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “He played some scoop shots – typical Surya-Namaskar shots. He also hit over cover. When he is in this kind of form, it’s difficult for you to figure out where and how to bowl., and how to survive, because then he starts playing the field. Behind the wickets is his territory. He scores a lot of runs there and did that once again.”
