IND vs SA: 'KL Rahul Said You've To...' - Arshdeep Singh's Huge Revelation After Match-Winning Spell

The 24-year-old India National Cricket Team left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was at his absolute best in the first ODI of the three-match series against the Aiden Markram-led South Africa National Cricket Team. Arshdeep Singh delivered a Player of the Match performance and helped his side win the series opening clash in Johannesburg.

The stocks of the left-armer have been going down in the last 12 months in international cricket. He hasn’t looked threatening like he used to when he first made his debut in T20I cricket against the England National Cricket Team in Southampton on July 7, 2022.

Despite not being at his absolute best, Arshdeep Singh somehow managed to keep him in the scheme of things in T20I cricket, but the selection committee wasn’t interested in having him in the 50-over cricket. That changed when he was included in the squad for the South Africa ODI series away from home and he repaid the faith with his stellar performance.

Arshdeep Singh made his ODI debut for the India National Cricket Team on November 25, 2022, against the New Zealand National Cricket Team in Auckland, but he had to wait for 4 matches and over one year to finally pick a wicket in the 50-over format at the international level. He wasn’t able to pick any wickets in the 3 matches against the Black Caps but he instantly delivered against the Proteas.

Arshdeep Singh picked up the massive wickets of Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Tony de Zorzi, Heinrich Klaasen, and Andile Phehlukwayo to bag a 5-wicket haul. He gave away just 37 runs in his 10-over spell and his economy rate was 3.70.

I would thank KL Rahul bhai as he said you have to come back and get that fifer – Arshdeep Singh

India National Cricket Team left-armer seamer Arshdeep Singh spoke to the presenter after winning the Player of the Match award in the first ODI against South Africa and thanked god and team management for their support. He said:

“I feel little sore. Loving this moment. Thank God and the team management. It is a little different than normal grounds as I was running out of breath.”

He further credited stand-in skipper KL Rahul for his success, saying the star wicketkeeper-batter asked him to bag a fifer against South Africa.

“Personally it feels good, I am enjoying my role. I would thank KL Rahul bhai as he said you have to come back and get that fifer. I guess it is about enjoying this moment. (On the upcoming matches) When we go there, then focus on what will work there.”

Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh became the first Indian pacer to take a 5-wicket haul against South Africa in ODIs. Overall, he was the fourth Indian bowler to achieve the feat after Sunil Joshi, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Ravindra Jadeja.

Indian bowlers with 5-fers vs South Africa in ODIs:

5/6 – Sunil Joshi, Nairobi, 1999

5/22 – Y Chahal, Centurion, 2018

5/33 – Ravindra Jadeja, Kolkata, 2023

5/37 – Arshdeep Singh, Jo’burg, today*

Also, this was the first time since 2012 that an Indian left-arm quick bagged a 5-wicket haul in 50-over cricket. The last Indian left-arm pacer to bag a 5-wicket haul in ODIs before Arshdeep Singh was Irfan Pathan.

Talking about the match, India bundled out South Africa for just 116 and then chased down the target with 200 balls remaining to earn an 8-wicket victory. The score of 116 was the lowest for South Africa in the home ODIs.