Arshdeep Singh recalled his challenging time with the Indian men’s cricket team in the past 12 months, saying that his journey during this period had its ups and downs. Arshdeep revealed that he relies on his recent experience of bowling with the new ball to excel in this latest test of his skills.

Last year, he took four wickets in as many matches against Australia, but he also conceded a significant number of runs in each match. However, his performances against South Africa and Afghanistan were relatively better, with four wickets in four matches and a more acceptable overall economy rate of eight.

“The last 12 months have been a mixed bag (of experience). There were a few good performances and I got to learn something new. There were a few ups and downs as well, making my performances neutral,” Arshdeep said during the pre-match press meet on Tuesday.

Arshdeep stated that his experience bowling with the new ball in the absence of senior pros such as Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj has helped him develop as a bowler.

“Specifically, I recently started (bowling) with new ball, especially on slow wickets. In the last match, I tried a few variations, especially against left-handers, and it worked and it gave me some confidence. Otherwise, I am trying to sharpen my skills,” he added.

Arshdeep added that having a clear role within the team has helped him gain experience, even when he was struggling with the ball.

“Players’ roles are defined. As a bowler, you know, you have to bowl at the start and middle overs. When there is clarity, you come up with good performances,” he added.

Despite India securing the series 2-0, the 24-year-old emphasized that he and the team remain committed to ongoing improvement.

“Mindset as a team doesn’t work on what the series scoreline and what happened in the last matches. The main motive is to get used to the ground, adapt quickly. We can look at improving and developing match skills,” said Arshdeep.

The Chinnaswamy Stadium frequently challenges a bowler’s skills and endurance due to its flat deck and short boundaries. However, Arshdeep viewed this as an advantage.

“We feel there is nothing to lose here. Batsmen are under pressure because of the feeling that they have to score more boundaries and that is where as a bowler you are in the game. You can get more wickets.”

Arshdeep mentioned that he would concentrate on the World Cup only when the time comes. Currently, his thoughts are preoccupied with other matches, including the IPL 2024.

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