(AP Photo)
It’s astonishing that Arshdeep Singh delivered more yorkers than Jasprit Bumrah during IPL 2024, considering Bumrah’s renowned mastery of the skill and his status as the world’s premier exponent of yorkers.
In the recent T20 World Cup, Arshdeep Singh emerged as a standout performer, clinching the championship title with his left-arm seam bowling prowess, highlighted by a stellar campaign across venues in the USA and the West Indies. Partnering with Jasprit Bumrah, the duo formed a formidable fast-bowling tandem for India, proving effective both at the start of innings and during the crucial death overs.
Arshdeep’s exceptional performance in the T20 World Cup saw him claim 17 wickets in just 8 matches at an impressive average of 12.64, tying with Fazalhaq Farooqi as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker. He acknowledged that Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to build pressure from the opposite end played a crucial role in his success.
Arshdeep Singh sheds light on surpassing Jasprit Bumrah in yorker deliveries during IPL 2024.
When questioned about bowling more yorkers than Jasprit Bumrah in IPL, Arshdeep pointed out that the necessity of yorkers varies depending on the pitch conditions. He cited an instance in New York where the ball was seaming around, allowing fast bowlers like himself to exploit those conditions without relying heavily on yorkers. In contrast, on flat wickets typical of the IPL, yorkers proved to be the most effective option.
“The yorker has become like a cliche nowadays. In New York, you didn’t have to bowl yorkers. Hitting the length was creating problems for the batsmen. It has become a norm that you must bowl yorkers in the death overs but I think you can’t bowl yorkers on every pitch,” Arshdeep replied during a chat with The Indian Express.
You have to adapt when bowling at the death – Arshdeep Singh
The young left-arm bowler emphasized the importance of adapting to conditions when bowling in the death overs. He stressed that flexibility is crucial for bowlers in T20 cricket.
“When bowling in the death, you have to adapt. On certain pitches, you might end up bowling 20 slower ones out of the 24 deliveries. In the IPL, where you are playing on flat wickets, bowling a yorker is the only option,” Arshdeep said.
“When Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) is not overdoing the yorker, it’s because he knows he might end up conceding runs. In T20 bowling you can’t be rigid. You need to keep an open mind as well,” he added.
Arshdeep Singh boasts an impressive record of 79 wickets in 52 T20Is, maintaining an average of 19.10. Known for his ability to swing the new ball and execute yorkers effectively at the death, the 25-year-old left-arm bowler played pivotal roles throughout the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024.
In crucial moments of the tournament, Arshdeep consistently provided breakthroughs with the new ball and showcased his prowess in the death overs. His pivotal contribution came in the final match, where he bowled the penultimate over, conceding a mere 4 runs. This tight spell allowed Hardik Pandya to successfully defend 16 runs in the final over, leading India to clinch their second T20 World Cup title.
