Arshdeep Singh, the lead pacer of India's T20 side, endured a costly outing for Ludhiana Lions in Punjab's Sher-e-Punjab T20 league just days before India's T20 series against Afghanistan begins on September 13, and his form slump has stirred fresh concern within the team camp.
What happened against Fazilka
In the match against Fazilka Falcons, Arshdeep Singh bowled his full quota of four overs but leaked 51 runs without picking up a single wicket. He also sprayed 3 wides and 1 no-ball during his spell, a sign that his rhythm was completely off. What made the outing more surprising is that, barring Shubman Gill, every other batter in the Fazilka line-up was largely inexperienced, yet Arshdeep could not trouble them and kept conceding runs freely.
Why India's camp is worried
As India's frontline T20 pacer, Arshdeep Singh's poor showing in a domestic T20 league carries extra weight this close to a major series. With only a handful of days left before the Afghanistan series gets underway, the dip in form has raised questions about whether he can regain his rhythm in time for the opener.
Squad changes ahead of the Afghanistan series
According to news reports, India's squad for the T20 series against Afghanistan has already been announced, with Vaibhav getting another opportunity while Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya have been left out. The series is also seen as significant for captain Shreyas Iyer, given that recent selection calls have added to both his responsibilities and the challenges in front of him.
