'If you think you are perfect, then don't come to me' - Arshdeep Singh’s coach recalls pacer's interaction with Wasim Akram

India are gearing up for a three-match T20I series against Australia at home and the first game is scheduled to take place at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Tuesday (September 20). Arshdeep Singh, who has been picked up for the T20 World Cup 2022 squad, has been rested for the Australia series and will miss playing under his home crowd where he had played a lot of cricket in his younger days.  

The left-arm seamer was quite impressive in the death overs for India in the Asia Cup 2022 and he had a chance to meet up with one of his idols and Pakistan legend Wasim Akram. Arshdeep’s coach Jaswant Rai has now revealed the story of how Akram had left a tricky question during the interaction with the youngster. 

Jaswant Rai unveils Akram’s words that left Arshdeep Singh thinking 

Jaswant mentioned that Wasim Akram had praised Arshdeep for his bowling but was reluctant to advise him if Arshdeep thinks he was perfect. He added that Arshdeep was given the freedom to learn something from Akram whenever he wanted and the statement had left Arshdeep with a dilemma. The youngster was confused and felt Akram would mind if he did not go to the former Pakistan bowler for suggestion. 

“Arshdeep told me that he met Akram bhai who told him, 'Sardarji, you are bowling very well. You are a good bowler. If you think you are perfect, then don't come to me. If you feel you want to ask me anything or want to learn something from me then you can come whenever you want,” Jaswant Rai told journalist Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel. 

“He then told me that when he went to the hotel at night, he kept thinking about that question. He felt that if he didn't go then Akram would mind and think that Sardarji seems to know everything. So next day he went to Akram and had a discussion,” he added.  

Arshdeep will be back in the squad for the three-match T20I series against South Africa while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be rested for that series.