Arshdeep Singh Can Be India's Death-Over Ace at T20 World Cup, Says RP

Former Indian pacer Rudra Pratap Singh believes that Punjab Kings underutilized young left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh during the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL). However, Singh believes that Arshdeep can be a valuable asset for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup, especially alongside Jasprit Bumrah.

Arshdeep finished the IPL with 19 wickets in 14 matches, but his economy rate of 10.03 raised concerns. Singh believes that Arshdeep's usage was not optimal and that he should have been given more opportunities to bowl in the death overs.

"If we assess Arshdeep on the basis of his IPL performance, I think he hasn't been utilized well," Singh said. "The utilization of the bowlers also depends on their captain, in which conditions he uses them, in which situation he makes them bowl and how best that he thinks his bowler is."

Singh believes that Arshdeep's left-arm action and variations make him a potent threat in the death overs. He suggests that Arshdeep should focus on using cutters effectively on the slower wickets in the United States, where the T20 World Cup will be played.

"Talking about the length on the tracks in the USA during an early morning start, as per my understanding, there should be a bit of slowness in the wicket," Singh said. "So, the ideal length will be somewhere around just short of good length."

Singh also believes that Bumrah should bowl three overs in the death overs, with Arshdeep as his preferred partner. He feels that Arshdeep's variations give him an edge over Mohammed Siraj in this role.

"Death bowling is really important in T20 cricket," Singh said. "Bumrah may bowl three overs in the death overs. He is our mainstay there. My preference alongside Bumrah in the death is Arshdeep over Siraj because of the variations he has."

Singh also highlighted the importance of Hardik Pandya bowling his full quota of overs, which would allow India to field three specialist spinners. He believes that Shivam Dube can also be a valuable addition to the team as a batting all-rounder.

"Hardik bowled in the IPL and bowled four overs so there's no injury scare," Singh said. "Hardik's bowling will be important and he will have to bowl all his quota of 4-overs."

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