Former India pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji has said that Arshdeep Singh’s extras are a major concern for the squad. His remarks came after the teenage pacer let up 51 runs in four overs against New Zealand in the first T20I in Ranchi, including two wides and one no-ball.
The Men in Blue were defeated by the Blackcaps by 21 runs in the opening T20I and trail the three-match series 0-1. However, one of the game’s highlights was Arshdeep’s continued ability to bowl extras, including a 27-run last over that proved to be the difference between the two teams.
“It’s not simple to mend something for which there is no straight remedy. He (Arshdeep Singh) needs to know where his running markers are. At the same time, he must learn to respond well under pressure. That is a major concern, given how he has continued to bowl no-balls. He also has a lot of work to do off the field with the bowling coach. “Hopefully, he will do well in the next bouts,” Balaji added.
Arshdeep had an evening to forget against Sri Lanka before to the series against the Kiwis, bowling as much as five no-balls in a T20I encounter. Balaji identified a reoccurring trend in the 23-year-game old’s and warned him that if he did not make changes, he would lose confidence.
“He has a rhythm problem that he has to solve. If you repeatedly overstep, there is an issue that has to be addressed immediately. Otherwise, you will lose confidence, rhythm, and momentum. It’s happened before. “He should go back to the drawing board and concentrate on his foot-landing,” he continued.
India will be looking to even the series when they face the Kiwis in the second T20I on January 29 in Lucknow.
