Ramiz Raja drops 'better than Jasprit Bumrah' remark as he hails Arshdeep Singh after T20 World Cup 2024 heroics

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh emerged as one of the standout performers in India's triumphant campaign at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, finishing joint-highest wicket-taker alongside Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi with 17 scalps.

His impressive ability to maintain composure under pressure and a strong willingness to learn has now earned him rich praise from former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja. India clinched the T20 World Cup 2024 title as an unbeaten team on June 29.

Ramiz Raja praises Arshdeep Singh's crucial role in India's T20 World Cup 2024 victory

Arshdeep played a crucial role in Team India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, delivering a pivotal penultimate over in the final, where he conceded just four runs and finished with stunning figures of 2/20 against South Africa in Barbados.

Praising Arshdeep for his contribution to India’s historic title triumph, Raja has pointed out that Jasprit Bumrah, who won the 'Player of the Tournament' with 15 wickets, was Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s main bowler, but Arshdeep has been learning from the premier pacer without feeling overshadowed.

Ramiz Raja said in his YouTube channel 'Ramiz Speaks': “Bumrah ke hote hue, ye craft seekh bhi rahe hain, par unse dab nahi rahe hain (with Bumrah there, Arshdeep is learning from him and not feeling the pressure because of Bumrah's presence). It's very important for him to back himself and prove that he is on par with Bumrah, if not better than him. So, to challenge himself that way is very important for Arshdeep's growth, because if he will compete with the world's best bowler, then his own bowling will touch the sky.”

Raja commended Arshdeep's ability to thrive in pressure situations, particularly in death overs, where his strategic variations—such as length balls and slower deliveries—have been instrumental. The former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman mentioned that Arshdeep bowls intelligently in his field, making him a valuable asset for the Indian cricket team.

Arshdeep Singh's bowling will touch the sky if he..: Ramiz Raja

The commentator further noted. “He comes on to bowl in do-or-die situations (death overs), like if he doesn't deliver, the team will lose and he might be out of the squad. But he bowls cleverly, and to his field, when to bowl length balls, slower balls can bowl the slower bouncer as well. So, he offers a lot of advantage to his team.”

In the end, Raja said that the important thing about Indian cricket is that there is improvement in their bowlers’ skill level every six months, saying their bowlers do not fall apart or their performance dips. He further noted that the Indian bowlers’ skill level is going up and there is a willingness to learn, which is an important element that he finds in Arshdeep's bowling.

The former Pakistan captain signed off by saying that all the Indian bowlers played their part in their T20 World Cup victory. Raja noted that some Indian bowlers got hit, but most of them delivered good performances with their tight bowling and cleverness on flat tracks that tested your bowling quality, credibility, and credentials in the recent mega ICC tournament.