Ravichandran Ashwin urged the Indian team management to persist with Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI after the Punjab pacer bowled a terrific spell with the new ball in the first T20I against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9.
Arshdeep has had to miss quite a few games in recent times as the Indian team has opted to field a plethora of all-rounders in the playing XI. He played just two matches in the Asia Cup in September. During the subsequent tour of Australia, Harshit Rana was picked ahead of him for the first two T20Is before Arshdeep replaced the right-arm pacer for the last three.
Many believed that Arshdeep would not be picked to play the first T20I against the Proteas, and Jasprit Bumrah would be the lone specialist pacer in action. However, not only did Arshdeep play the encounter but also made a mark, dismissing Quinton de Kock and Tristan Stubbs in his first two overs inside the powerplay.
