Team India management planning to include Arshdeep Singh into Test format? Outgoing bowling coach drops humungous hint

Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey reckons that Arshdeep Singh's future in Test cricket will depend upon the playing conditions and he might not get into India's Test team for a home series.

Arshdeep Singh was one of India's top performers in the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024. The left-arm quick emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker of the tournament alongside Afghanistan's left-arm pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi. Arshdeep picked up 17 wickets in eight matches at an average of 12.64 and an economy rate of 7.16.

Arshdeep has been a key member of India's T20I team for some time now. He was also a part of India's squad in the 2022 T20 World Cup played in Australia. But despite playing 52 T20Is, he has played just 6 ODIs so far and is yet to make his Test debut. It may be due to Arshdeep's lack of fitness for the longer formats and India's depth of fast bowling in Tests and ODIs.

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Paras Mhambrey speaks on Arshdeep Singh's future in India's Test team

Paras Mhambrey recently spoke to The Indian Express regarding Arshdeep Singh's chances of playing Test cricket. The former India bowling coach reckoned that Arshdeep might break into India's Test team only if they played four seamers during the Australia tour.

He added that the left-arm seamer might not play in Indian conditions as India has plenty of options to select before him.

“It depends on the conditions. Maybe in Australia, if we play four seamers, he has a chance. To get one in India will be very difficult at the moment,” Mhambrey said.

Mhambrey also felt that Arshdeep Singh needs to play more first-class cricket to make himself more suitable for the longer format of the game. According to Mhambrey, Arshdeep has the swing required to be successful in the format and just needs to maintain his fitness levels.

“I feel he just needs a little more game time in first-class cricket, just to get control over his swing and also know how to use reverse swing, which will be very handy. He has the swing that works for him. It is about maintaining fitness and working on it. At the moment, he may not be a starter in Tests, but he isn’t far away,” he added.

Arshdeep has played just 16 first-class matches so far and might need to prove himself in the longer format by playing more first-class games.

Arshdeep Singh a potent weapon in India's T20I team

Arshdeep Singh is known for his skills to swing the new ball both ways and has a potent yorker for the death overs as well. Being a left-armer makes him a unique commodity as well. Alongside Jasprit Bumrah, he formed a formidable pair of fast bowling in the T20 World Cup 2024.

In 52 T20Is Arshdeep has played so far, he has picked up 79 wickets at an average of 19.10 and an economy rate of 8.39, with the best of 4-9 against the USA in the T20 World Cup 2024. The left-arm quick has also been impressive in the ODI format with 10 wickets in six ODIs so far at an average of 18.40.