India pacer Arshdeep Singh missed his England Test debut due to injury and selection. Punjab coach Gagandeep Singh explains what he must improve.
India’s left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh saw his much-awaited Test debut in England slip away due to injury and selection strategies. The 26-year-old was ruled out of the fourth Test in Manchester after injuring his left thumb. Though he appeared fit for the fifth Test at The Oval, the team management decided not to pick him.
In Chennai for the Buchi Babu tournament, Punjab bowling coach Gagandeep Singh admitted that the wait has tested Arshdeep’s patience.
“A few months ago when he was in England, I spoke to him. He was getting impatient that he was not getting a chance. I just told him, ‘You’ve to wait for your time’. I think they should’ve played him in England because he’s a swing bowler and he’s tall, everything’s good. I don’t know the team combinations, probably the coach (Gautam Gambhir) and captain (Shubman Gill) weren’t confident about him,” said Gagandeep.
What Arshdeep Singh Needs to Do for a Test Cap
Gagandeep believes the pacer still has areas to refine before earning his Test debut.
“He can be a better bowler with more swing and more accuracy. I haven’t seen him in the last few months, but hopefully when I do, I can assess him better. From the recent matches that I have observed, he can work more on line and length, yorker balls, and especially bouncers, which are the more effective deliveries in international cricket.”
Arshdeep Singh’s Impact in Shorter Formats
While his red-ball chance is still pending, Arshdeep has already become a force in limited-overs cricket. Since debuting in 2022, he has featured in 63 T20Is and nine ODIs. He played a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph last year, finishing as joint-leading wicket-taker. His penultimate over against South Africa in the final, where he conceded just four runs, remains one of the tournament’s defining moments.
With the England setback behind him, death-over specialist Arshdeep Singh is focused on the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE, where he will aim to extend his impact.
Gagandeep’s Role in Arshdeep’s Development
The Punjab coach also recalled how he worked with Arshdeep during the 2021 and 2022 domestic seasons, focusing on discipline and swing.
“When I joined the Punjab team, Arshdeep had just come off a season of playing primarily T20 cricket. Arshdeep, at that point, was bowling wide of the stumps and relying heavily on slower deliveries. But in red-ball cricket, that approach doesn’t work. So, our focus was on tightening his line and length, spot bowling, and improving wrist position. We worked on ensuring that the ball landed on the seam more consistently to encourage natural swing, rather than relying on cutters,” said Gagandeep.
Arshdeep Singh’s Test debut may have been delayed, but his growth as a pacer continues. With advice from mentors like Gagandeep Singh and his proven record in white-ball formats, the young left-armer remains one of India’s brightest prospects for the red-ball game.
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