It’s one of those cricketing stories that reminds you patience, determination, and uncelebrated effort have their place. Arshdeep Singh, India’s dynamic left-arm seamer, spent weeks in England hoping to earn his first Test cap. Arshdeep Singh could have only dreamt about making it happen. Another story is that a bothersome left-thumb injury on the last ball in a nets session in Beckenham meant no Test cap, no fiery spells on English soil, and several weeks of possibly wasting his first time over there! Disappointing? Though he didn’t take the field in England, Arshdeep was quietly perfecting every ball in the nets.
Turning Bench Time into Skill Time
While cricket enthusiasts were speculating why Arshdeep was missing from the playing XI, he was quietly racking up victories for himself in the background. He did not just hang out during the England series. He put in the work and showed determination. He was bowling over and over again. He spent hours training in the strength and conditioning gym—this isn’t your average gym work, this is controlled practice leading to match preparations and survival mechanisms. You could tell he had put the work in, evidenced when he played against East Zone in his Duleep Trophy quarterfinal. He looked sharp from ball one. He had batters on the backfoot, he was probing them with length and using his brands of variation cleverly, his months of invisible effort in England had transformed into visible impact back in India, that work pays off when it’s done consistently, even if there is no visible show.
Mastering the Mental Game
One of the biggest challenges for any player sidelined by injury or waiting for their continued selection is staying mentally engaged. Arshdeep appears to have found a way through this, using some insight he gained from senior pacer Mohammad Siraj. Those long practice sessions, especially the game-plan-ending post-lunch spells, where, aside from a few far-fetched miracles, the ball hardly swings or seams. The mental battle can often be tougher than the physical. Arshdeep found himself looking forward to the slow grind, to the dull parts, to using it as an opportunity to continue to sharpen skills and check focus. A strategy like this, mental toughness will be worth its weight in gold, especially for a fast bowler preparing for Test cricket, where the margins between a good bowler and a match-winner can often be the simplicity of patience and inherent consistency.
Switching Formats Without Missing a Beat
Arshdeep’s real differentiator is his ability to adapt. The Test series in England was an aberration in his journey, a brief experience that he has moved past quickly and not allowed to dominate his future focus. He was already on to the T20 Asia Cup, where India is looking to him as one of their wicket-taking resources. First, he was incorporating some white-ball training into his mix of training while he was in England, resisting the easy option of separating his formats. The Duleep Trophy gave him a great chance for some overs in red-ball cricket; now the challenge is to take some rhythm and adapt to the T20 format.
FAQs
- How did Arshdeep spend his time in England despite not playing?
He focused on training, bowling practice, strength, and conditioning work.
- What advice did Mohammad Siraj give Arshdeep during the England tour?
To enjoy and learn from the “boring” moments in long practice sessions.
- What mindset helps Arshdeep stay ready despite setbacks?
He focuses on extra work and preparation when not playing to stay fully fit and match-ready.
