'You always have butterflies in your stomach, no matter how much cricket you play' - Arshdeep Singh after maiden India call-up

Pacer Arshdeep Singh has got his maiden call-up to India’s senior team for the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa, which will start on June 9 (Thursday). Arshdeep has had some good outings in the IPL 2022, as he got 10 wickets to his name at an economy of 7.70.

Recently, he opened up about the required improvements he needs to make such as being consistent. Meanwhile, he also expressed his feelings for his maiden call-up to the senior Indian team. To note, Arshdeep has played 49 T20 matches, including the IPL, and has scalped 52 wickets at an economy of eight and also has one five-wicket haul to his name.

The excitement to play cricket is always there in a cricketer: Arshdeep Singh

“We were traveling in the team bus on Sunday when I got the message of being picked (in Indian T20I side), then I did not feel much on how to react as we were going for the game. Right now, I am feeling really good as congratulatory messages are still coming in and my family is also being congratulated. I am grateful after being picked in the squad,” Arshdeep was quoted as saying by NDTV.

He spoke about the excitement of going into any match and also shared how he prepares before getting into any game. “You always have butterflies in your stomach, no matter how much cricket you play. The excitement to play cricket is always there in a cricketer. But when you get the role clarity from your team, it makes things easier in terms of execution. I follow my routines and processes before each game and I try to make sure I do not miss them.”

Later, talking about his stint with Punjab Kings, Arshdeep credited the individuals who played a vital role in his improvement, and also spoke on the role of dew in executing the plan of yorkers.

“I guess, it is all about repetition (on how he has managed to deliver yorkers on a consistent basis). Yorker is a delivery that you learn to perfect after bowling it ball after ball. It is based on how you feel on that day and how the wicket is.”

“The credit goes to my bowling coach Jaswant Rai and also the bowling (coach) of PBKS – Damien Wright. They have worked a lot with me, before the match, Wright used to tell me that I should practice bowling yorkers with the wet ball as well because if dew comes in, then there are chances of missing the yorkers,” Arshdeep concluded.