Needed a batsman to stay till the end: Arshdeep Singh

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Tarouba (Trinidad). India’s left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh admitted that the team needed someone to bat till the end to save the visiting team from losing the T20I series opener against the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium.

Chasing a target of 150, India were reduced to 145 for nine, needing 37 off 29 at one stage. Despite the equation reaching ten runs in the last over, India could not score the required runs trailing 0-1 in the five-match series. India will now play the second T20 match against the West Indies at the Providence Stadium in Guyana on Sunday.

In the post-match press conference, Arshdeep said, “We will review the match (where we could have done better). Like, what could we have done better in the first innings. Where could we have kept things tight with the ball and where did we fall short in finishing as a batting unit in the second innings? I think we needed one batsman to stay till the end because in his last two overs, five fielders were inside the 30-yard circle.”

In the 19th over of India’s chase, Arshdeep hit two fours before being run out for 12, but could not get India over the finish line on a slow pitch, which was not easy to bat on. “Any player who is in that kind of position has the belief that he can win matches for the team.”

“When you are playing for your country, you always get the added pressure that yes, you have to win matches for your team. Me, Kuldeep, Chahal were discussing the options available to score runs, but in the end we were a little behind.

Asked if India’s batting only going up to No.7 and Tail starting at No.8 is a cause for concern, Arshdeep dismissed those suggestions. “Not really. This sort of thing always comes after the match is over. The playing XI we fielded, we were very confident of winning the match.”

“We always back our playing XI whether it has six bowlers or nine. It doesn’t matter because we always back the eleven players who are fielded to win matches for the team.

Young batsman Tilak Verma made a brilliant debut for India in the defeat. After taking two fine catches, Verma was batting brilliantly for the first time in international cricket, hitting 39 runs in 22 balls at a strike rate of 177.27, studded with two fours and three sixes.

“I cannot say that it was the turning point. This is his style of play, he plays very aggressive shots and he will give chances in them. But as we have seen, he is very talented and he did very well in his debut.

“When he was under immense pressure and don’t forget we were chasing, he played some beautiful shots. I think he should always back his game and in future he will help the team win many matches.

The left-arm fast bowler, who took 2-31 from his four overs while conceding four wides in the 19th over, believes consistency and room for error has to be maintained in international cricket.

“IPL is already a high level game. But is that skill what holds you in good stead in international cricket and at the same time, you have to be consistent here because the chances of making a mistake are really less and if you are on that side you get punished. It is very important to be consistent at the international level and to give your best no matter what team you are playing against.

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