During his debut T20 match, Arshdeep Singh received a clear message from the coaching staff led by Gautam Gambhir. Currently, Arshdeep is playing for the North Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026. In the quarter-final against the West Zone, he played a key role in the team's 52-point victory, taking three wickets. Now, the North Zone must face the South Zone in the semi-finals.
After the game, Arshdeep shared the message he received from the Indian team's management, headed by Gautam Gambhir. Arshdeep Singh stated that the message from the team's leadership was very clear: he needs to perform well wherever an opportunity arises and consistently maintain a high level. He noted that the chance for a Test debut will come when the right time arrives.
In an interview with 'Indian Express', Arshdeep emphasized that he should continue to demonstrate effectiveness wherever there is a chance and maintain consistent quality of play. He added that when the right moment comes, he will be given the opportunity. Although 27-year-old Arshdeep has not yet played for India in Tests, he aims to represent the Indian team in all three formats.
In the quarter-final match against the West Zone, Arshdeep made a significant contribution with the ball. Although the initial success with the new ball was achieved by another bowler, Arshdeep then put pressure on the West Zone batsmen. He dismissed Mushir Khan in a tough spell and was subsequently targeted by Shardul Thakur. In this match, he bowled 14 overs, including one without conceding a single run. Arshdeep took three wickets for 53 runs, which allowed the West Zone team to score only 87 runs in the first innings. The North Zone won by a margin of 52 runs and advanced to the semi-finals.
Arshdeep believes that Test and classical cricket give fast bowlers more chances to prove their worth. In his opinion, if a bowler's initial spell goes poorly, they still have a chance to return and take wickets in red ball cricket. This is why Arshdeep wants to constantly play classical cricket to prepare for the Test format.
Previously, Arshdeep focused on red ball cricket to secure a spot in the squad. In 2023, he traveled to England and played classical cricket for Kent. He decided to concentrate on classical cricket upon the advice of the then head coach of the Indian team, Rahul Dravid. The goal was to broaden his experience in red ball cricket and prepare for the challenges of Test cricket. Nevertheless, he has yet to make his Test debut for India.
Left-arm fast bowlers are rarely seen in the Indian Test cricket setup. Recently, Jaydev Unadkat was the last left-arm fast bowler to play for India in Tests. After an impressive performance in domestic cricket, Unadkat returned to the Test squad, but his second stint was short-lived. Following this, Yash Dayal was included in the Indian squad for the Test series against Bangladesh for the first time. However, he failed to make the starting XI, and his Test debut did not materialize.
Consequently, Arshdeep may get a chance to occupy a spot in the Test team in the future, provided he continues to show consistently high results in red ball cricket.
Arshdeep Singh has played 23 matches in classical cricket. During this time, he has taken 71 wickets. His bowling average stands at 30.26, and he has succeeded twice by taking five or more wickets in an innings. Arshdeep, who has already proven his capability in white-ball cricket, now strives to demonstrate the same consistency in red ball cricket.
Currently, Arshdeep's task is not only to make it into the Test squad but also to consistently perform in red ball cricket so that the team management does not overlook him. He has currently received a clear message from the coaching staff under Gautam Gambhir: deliver results wherever possible. The door to a Test cap may open when the appropriate time comes.