Irfan Pathan questions Arshdeep Singh’s bowling ahead of IPL 2026

Arshdeep Singh played a key role in India’s epic win in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He led the Men in Blue's pace attack alongside premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, finishing the tournament with 9 wickets in 8 matches. During the Super 8s, Arshdeep even surpassed Jasprit Bumrah (33 wickets) to become India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history. However, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan believes that Arshdeep is losing his ability to swing the new ball.

Arshdeep Singh is among the elite list of Indian bowlers capable of swinging the ball both ways. Although we have seen incredible improvement in his performance over the years, he often led the bowling attack in the absence of star bowler Jasprit Bumrah. Pathan notes a trade-off. While his overall consistency has improved, his natural ability to generate swing has diminished, according to the former Indian legend.

Pathan’s Technical Critique: Evolution at the Cost of Swing?

While Arshdeep’s stats remain world-class, Irfan Pathan’s observation highlights a technical shift in the youngster's bowling. Early in his international career, Arshdeep was known for his ability to swing the ball back into right-handed batters.

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However, as he has evolved into a versatile all-phase bowler, there are signs that he is now prioritizing hitting the deck and executing variations over traditional swing.

How he bowls with the new ball is what matters

We are already aware of Arshdeep Singh’s skills with the new ball, especially his ability to swing it. Despite a considerable rise in his overall performance and accuracy, we haven’t seen much of his swing bowling in recent international games, which is a matter of concern for the Indian team, as that is what makes him stand out.

Speaking about Arshdeep Singh on his YouTube channel, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan said, “Arshdeep, who was your highest wicket-taker, has been consistently taking wickets. One thing he will definitely need to focus on is how he bowls with the new ball. Because over the past year, or slightly less than a year, from what I have observed, he hasn’t been bowling much inswing with the new ball.”

He needs to pay attention to it

Going further, the former Indian cricketer said that Arshdeep’s stats with the new ball have slightly declined, which could be a concern going forward in the IPL and India’s upcoming ICC events. “His statistics, compared to before and after the Asia Cup, have slightly declined in terms of new-ball bowling. He will need to pay attention to that and also keep an eye on his economy rate,” Pathan added.

Arshdeep Singh’s IPL form

In recent years, Arshdeep Singh has emerged as one of the finest finds for the Indian team due to his swing-bowling ability and effectiveness in death overs. Speaking about his IPL form, it has been quite impressive. He has taken 97 wickets in 82 IPL matches since 2019, with an economy rate of around 9.

Arshdeep has been consistent for Punjab Kings since his IPL debut in 2019. He has taken 97 wickets in 82 matches for the franchise. He was retained by the Kings before the 2025 IPL auction for ₹18 crore and played a vital role in taking his side to the final, where they eventually lost to first-time winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

He is also India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, with 127 wickets in 84 matches. Arshdeep is expected to play a key role for the Punjab Kings if they aim to finish the season with a trophy. Arshdeep Singh will be seen playing his first game against the Gujarat Titans on March 31, 2026, at the New PCA International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, Chandigarh.

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