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India vs New Zealand's first ODI match has concluded with the Men in Blue winning the first game comfortably by 5 wickets at Eden Park, Auckland. This is a good start to the five-match series. After the match, former India National Cricket Team captain Sunil Gavaskar and Ajinkya Rahane shared why Arshdeep Singh should be added to the Test squad.
India National Cricket Team broke the massive record as they won their first game in New Zealand in the ODIs after seven years. Previously, they lost four games and two games had no result. Having won the first game, Shubman Gill’s side would look to win the ODI series in New Zealand for the first time since 2018/19.
"He should be looked at even for Tests": Sunil Gavaskar on picking Arshdeep Singh for Test matches
While speaking to Sony Sports after the match, he was asked about Arshdeep Singh’s ability to swing the ball when there is a bit of help from the wicket and the conditions. Gavaskar stated that he has the ability to swing the ball both ways and in the first game, his length was excellent, which troubled the batters and should be added to the Test squad.
"He can swing the ball both ways, inswing and outswing. That creates doubt for batters about which ball is coming. His length today was excellent. The line was good in any case," Gavaskar said.
"He was making the right-handed batters play across the line from middle and off-stump. An odd ball was coming in as well. He bowled extremely well and I have always said, I have been seeing him for two or three years, that he should be looked at even for Tests," Gavaskar added.
Ajinkya Rahane praises Arshdeep Singh
Ajinkya Rahane also supported Sunil Gavaskar’s decision to select Arshdeep Singh for the Test squad. The former Indian batter believes that the left-arm seamer can swing the ball and trouble the batters in the red-ball format as well. Being a left-arm seamer, Arshdeep creates a different angle as well.
"He should definitely get a chance. The way he moves the white ball, inswing and outswing, the skill and wicket-taking ability he has, he has that with the red ball as well," former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane said.
"A left-arm pacer also creates a different angle. If you have a spinner, a different footmark gets created. So, Arshdeep has that skill to bowl with the red ball," Rahane added.
Arshdeep Singh recent form
Arshdeep finished off the spell with 4/70 in his 10 overs in the first game. He entered an elite list of Indian bowlers who picked four wickets in ODIs in New Zealand. The left-arm seamer was the most experienced pacer in India’s bowling attack for the first match. Arshdeep has played in 19 ODIs and 104 T20Is for India but is yet to make his Test debut.
He bowled excellently in the T20I series as well and was the leading wicket-taker for the Men in Blue in the five-match series, as he picked 6 wickets. The 27-year-old will look to deliver consistent performances in the forthcoming matches as well and help India win the remaining matches.
