Premium
This is an archive article published on December 18, 2023

‘I visualised taking a fifer a day before’: Arshdeep Singh on his player of the match vs South Africa

Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan shared nine wickets between them to restrict South Africa to their lowest ODI total at home.

India's bowler Arshdeep Singh gestures at the end of his over during the first One Day International cricket match between South Africa and India, at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, South Africa. (AP)India's bowler Arshdeep Singh gestures at the end of his over during the first One Day International cricket match between South Africa and India, at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, South Africa. (AP)

Arshdeep Singh’s coach Jaswant Rai has spoken about his ward’s preparation before every match, which is helping the left-arm seamer outsmart the batsmen. “Before every match, he will prepare his plans for the batsmen. If he is bowling to Dhoni and Surya, he will not give them width to open their arms,” Rai had told The Indian Express.

It was this conscientious approach and unshakeable temperament that saw the thinking-bowler Arshdeep, who bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in the ODIs against South Africa on Sunday.

In a chat with his fellow wrecker-in-chief Avesh Khan, between them duo shared nine wickets between them to restrict South Africa to their lowest ODI total at home, said how he had visualised it a day before the match.

Sunne mey lagega ki kahaani bana raha (It might sound like that I am making a story). I visualised taling five wickets and celebrating it with the aeroplane style before going to the bed,” Arshdeep told Avesh.

Story continues below this ad

“If you visualise something and then execute it accordingly makes you happy. I am at a very good head space irrespective of the performance and I never think about the results,” he added.

A day before the match, Arshdeep and Avesh did a photoshoot and shared that image on Instagram through collab. Arshdeep said that photoshoot boasted him to do well.

“That photoshoot motivated me a lot to do well,” he said.

Arshdeep Singh (left) with Avesh Khan during a photoshoot. (Screengrab) Arshdeep Singh (left) with Avesh Khan during a photoshoot. (Screengrab)

“Plan was to bowl in the stumps and there was purchase from the track as well because of the moisture,” he added.

Story continues below this ad

Arshdeep asked Avesh how did he kept himself ready despite not playing regularly.

“I try to focus on the things that is in my hands. When I didn’t get the chance to play in the T20Is, I was preparing for the ODIs. I was bowling seven and eight overs in the nets. It helped me,” said Avesh.

Avesh lauded Arshdeep for giving him everything on the plate.

“You set up the match for me. They were under pressure. My plan was to bowl wicket to wicket

Story continues below this ad

“I hope we both keep taking wickets in the future. We spend so much time together, keep talking about the field placement and how to bowl to a certain batsman. I hope, we keep doing it in the future,” said Avesh.

Stay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement