Ricky Ponting orders Gautam Gambhir to hand Test debut cap to Arshdeep Singh in ENG series opener

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed Arshdeep Singh to do well in the upcoming five-match Test series against England. The left-arm pacer has earned his maiden Test call-up from the Indian team.

Arshdeep Singh has been playing for India since 2022. Incidentally, he made his international debut in England too and will be hoping to get the chance to make his Test debut in the upcoming series. The Punjab star has represented India in both the white-ball formats so far.

In T20Is, Arshdeep Singh is one of the best bowlers in the world already and was named the ICC T20I Player of the Year earlier this year. After proving himself in the white-ball format, Arshdeep Singh will be aiming to hit the ground running in red-ball cricket.

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Ahead of the series, Ricky Ponting has backed Arshdeep Singh to do well in the longest format of the game. Ponting and Arshdeep are currently plying their trade for Punjab Kings in the ongoing IPL 2025. Speaking to ICC, the former cricketer heaped praise on the 26-year-old for his work ethic and technical strengths.

"I've had a good chance to get to know him really well. He's a great character to have around the team," Ponting said.

"He's a fun-loving guy. He's very laid-back around the group, which is great. Which is what we all like.

"As soon as the squad was announced the other day, the Test squad, the first thing I did in our team meeting was to make sure that I acknowledged that Arshdeep had been picked in front of everybody and just congratulated him in front of everybody. I think it's well deserved. I think he’ll bowl well in England as well," he added

Ricky Ponting bats for Arshdeep Singh's debut:

Ponting urged India to start Arshdeep Singh right from the first Test. Hailing the pacer as 'very skillful', the Australian legend said that the Dukes ball would suit him in the English conditions. He also said that he would be surprised if the Indian team management does not take advantage of having a left-arm pacer in the squad.

"I would actually have him in their Test team at the start. He's very skillful," Ponting said.

"I think the Dukes ball will help him in the UK as well. And I just think to have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team, I think will be something that, if India don't do it then it'll be a bit of a surprise to me," he added

Ponting also highlighted Arshdeep's county stint in the UK, saying that the experience will come in handy for India. Arshdeep played for Kent in the County Championship last year and did well. He picked up 13 wickets in five Division 1 games.

"He's played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well," said Ponting.

"Arshdeep is close to six-foot-four, so he's going to get decent bounce...as we know in England the ball still swings when it is 30, 40 or 50 overs old. To have someone that's got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer I think is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for on that tour," he added.

Arshdeep has been doing well in the ongoing IPL as well. He has picked up 18 wickets so far and played a key role in Punjab Kings' impressive display in IPL 2025. For the first time since 2014, Punjab Kings qualified for the playoffs and finished the league stage at the top of the table. They will be taking on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the first qualifier on May 29.