'Tere Ko Teeno Formats Khelna Hai': Arshdeep Singh Reveals Jasprit Bumrah Keeps Advising Him to Focus on Test Cricket

Having become an intrinsic part of India’s T20I setup, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh’s dream is to share the new ball in Test cricket alongside Jasprti Bumrah. Arshdeep recently played a prominent role in India winning the T20I World Cup with a 17-wicket haul during the tournament – the joint-highest alongside Fazalhaq Farooqi of Afghanistan.

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Since making his international debut in 2022, Arshdeep has regularly represented India in T20Is, having played 52 matches with 72 wickets in them so far.

The 25-year-old has also played six ODIs but is yet to play Test cricket.

At domestic level, where he played for Punjab, Arshdeep has an experience of 16 first-class matches and has 49 wickets at an average of 31.97 in them.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Arshdeep recalls how Bumrah keeps advising him to focus on playing all three formats, especially Test cricket which the latter believes is a superior marker to adjudge the quality of a bowler.

“Whenever you talk to Jassi bhai he will tell you how much he enjoys bowling in Test cricket,” Arshdeep said. “At the breakfast table, he would keep telling me that Arsh dhyan mein rakh tere ko teeno formats khelna hai (Keep it in your mind that you must play all three formats). He says when you do well in the Test cricket, people remember you and rate you more highly. Whenever we talk, he shares his input on bowling with the red ball.”

He continued, “In one spell, you can end up taking five or six wickets but at the same time, you can go a day without taking a wicket. It tests your body and mind. I am looking forward to sharing the new ball with him (Bumrah) in Test cricket as well.

Even Pakistan legend Wasim Akram recently asked Arshdeep to focus on red-ball cricket.

The India star said Akram has time and again praised him for his release point and ability to swing the ball both ways.

“In the 2022 Asia Cup, he told me that my release point is good and that the ball is leaving my hand beautifully. Recently, when I met him in New York, he praised me for my ability to swing the ball both ways. In one of his interviews, he said that I must play red-ball cricket more with the skillset I possess,” Arshdeep said.