Cricket

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."

Sunrisers Hyderabad emerged victorious in their final league match of IPL 2024, defeating Punjab Kings by 4 wickets in Hyderabad on Sunday. The match witnessed a heartwarming moment between Punjab Kings' bowler Arshdeep Singh and Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma.Abhishek Sharma, the Man of the Match, played a pivotal role in the victory, smashing a blistering 28-ball 66, including 6 sixes and 5 fours. His heroics helped Sunrisers Hyderabad chase down Punjab Kings' total of 215 with 5 balls to spare.After the match, a video shared by Abhishek Sharma's sister went viral, capturing a touching moment between Arshdeep Singh and Abhishek's mother. Arshdeep, who hails from the same region as Abhishek, approached the stands and sought blessings from Abhishek's mother."Give me the blessings which you give to Abhishek, I want the same," Arshdeep said in Punjabi.Abhishek Sharma has been in exceptional form for Sunrisers Hyderabad, scoring 467 runs from 13 matches at an average of 38.92 and a strike rate of 209.42. He has hit the most number of sixes in this edition of the IPL (41) and will be looking to add to his tally when SRH takes on Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday.Arshdeep Singh, on the other hand, has been a key performer for Punjab Kings, taking 19 wickets from 14 matches. He is currently third in the most wicket-takers list in this edition of the IPL and will be hoping to make a significant contribution with the ball in India's T20 World Cup campaign next month.The victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad sets up an exciting Qualifier 1 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, while Punjab Kings will be hoping to bounce back in the Eliminator.

Virat Kohli's Heartwarming Gesture Melts Hearts After Punjab Kings' IPL ExitIn a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, Indian cricket legend Virat Kohli took time out to meet the families of Punjab Kings players Harpreet Brar and Arshdeep Singh after their team's elimination from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.Despite Punjab Kings' disappointing loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Dharamsala on May 9, Kohli's gesture brought a ray of sunshine to the day for the two young stars. The meeting took place after the match, which ended Punjab Kings' hopes of reaching the playoffs.Punjab Kings shared a video of the encounter on social media, capturing the emotional moment when Kohli greeted the families of Brar and Singh. The video has since gone viral, with fans praising Kohli's kindness and compassion."A lot of positive signs throughout the season, but not enough to get over the line, unfortunately," said Punjab Kings stand-in skipper Sam Curran after the defeat. "We knew that we had the best side for the rest of the tournament and feel gutted for the team."Despite their elimination, Punjab Kings showed glimpses of their potential throughout the season. They recorded some impressive run-chases and had a strong bowling attack led by Arshdeep Singh.Kohli's gesture serves as a reminder that even in the face of defeat, sportsmanship and human connection can prevail. His actions have not only touched the hearts of the Punjab Kings players and their families but also inspired fans around the world.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its 25-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in the West Indies and USA from June 2 to June 29. While the batting lineup boasts star players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Suryakumar Yadav, concerns have been raised about the bowling attack, particularly the inclusion of Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj in the main lineup.Former Indian cricketer Madan Lal, a member of the 1983 World Cup-winning team, has expressed his reservations about the pace attack, stating that it lacks strength beyond Jasprit Bumrah. "I don't like the pace attack. Other than Jasprit Bumrah, it's not that good," Lal said. "Siraj has done well here and there, but his performances at the international level have been patchy."Lal believes that the bowling lineup will rely heavily on Bumrah for wickets and match-winning performances. "Not only in T20 cricket, you need a good pacer who can get you the wickets to win matches," he emphasized. "Bumrah is a wicket-taker and a match-winner. Let's see how Siraj performs. Otherwise, India will rely on Bumrah a lot."Lal also questioned the inclusion of Arshdeep and Siraj, stating that he is not confident in their abilities. "I am not sure about Arshdeep, nor am I sure about Siraj," he said. "Pandya is not that effective either. I think the team management has taken a chance on him. The pace line-up is the weak link. Apart from Bumrah, we have to see how Siraj and Arshdeep bowl."Lal's concerns stem from India's history of success being tied to a strong pace attack. "If you look at the history, India performed well only when they had a good pace attack," he said. "Only then, they won a lot of matches."Lal's preferred choice for the bowling attack would have been Thangarasu Natarajan, the current Sunrisers Hyderabad death-over specialist. "If I had a chance (to pick one), I would've picked Natarajan," he said. "I would have vouched for him because he is a good bowler at the death."

As the T20I World Cup 2024 approaches, India's pace bowling contingent faces intense competition for spots in the squad. With Mohammed Shami sidelined due to injury, Jasprit Bumrah remains a certainty, leaving several contenders vying for the remaining positions.Arshdeep Singh:Arshdeep Singh has emerged as a star in IPL 2024, showcasing his ability to swing the ball and maintain impeccable lines and length. With 9 wickets in the tournament, he has proven his wicket-taking prowess. However, his tendency to concede runs in the death overs remains a concern.Mohammed Siraj:Mohammed Siraj's poor form for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024 has diminished his chances of making the T20 World Cup squad. His 4 wickets and high economy rate of 10.41 are not encouraging signs. Despite his decent T20I record, his current form and propensity to leak runs at the death hinder his selection prospects.Avesh Khan:Avesh Khan has impressed for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024, demonstrating his pace and ability to generate steep bounce. His aggressive bowling style and early wicket-taking prowess make him a formidable force in the powerplay overs. With 7 wickets in 7 matches, he has a strong T20I record and could earn a spot in the squad if he continues to perform well.Mukesh Kumar:Mukesh Kumar has emerged as an outside contender for the T20 World Cup squad. His 8 wickets in 4 IPL matches this season have put him on the radar. The right-arm medium pacer has also taken 12 wickets in 14 T20I appearances for India. If he continues to perform strongly for Delhi Capitals, he could force his way into the squad.Deepak Chahar:Deepak Chahar is another pace option for India. With 31 T20I wickets at an average of 24.09 and an economy of 8.30, he has a proven track record. However, his inconsistency and the presence of Arshdeep, a more experienced death-over specialist, make his selection unlikely.Conclusion:India's pace bowling contingent for the T20I World Cup 2024 is still in flux. Arshdeep Singh remains a strong contender, while Avesh Khan and Mukesh Kumar have emerged as potential options. Mohammed Siraj's poor form and Deepak Chahar's inconsistency make their selection less likely. As the IPL 2024 season progresses, the competition for spots in the squad will intensify, with the best performers earning their place in the Indian team.