Team India is getting ready for a big Test series in England, and there’s a lot of excitement around left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh. After doing well in white-ball cricket, Arshdeep is now close to playing in Test matches for the first time.
India will begin the tour at Headingley in Leeds, with a young and slightly uncertain squad, especially in batting. But when it comes to pace bowling, they are strong. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj are the leaders of the attack, and they could be joined by either Arshdeep Singh or Prasidh Krishna as the third fast bowler.
Here are three simple and clear reasons why Arshdeep Singh should be given his first Test cap in the opening match against England.
1. He Has Good County Cricket Experience
After IPL 2023, Arshdeep Singh went to England to play County Cricket for Kent. It was a smart move because it helped him get better at red-ball cricket. He played five matches and picked up 13 wickets. Even though his numbers don’t look amazing, the learning he got was priceless.
He bowled in different English conditions, learned to handle longer formats, and improved his control and swing. That experience will now help him if he plays against England in their own backyard. Not many young Indian fast bowlers get such an opportunity, and Arshdeep made full use of it.
2. He Can Swing the Ball and Bowl Fast Too
When it comes to picking the third fast bowler, the choice is likely between Arshdeep and Prasidh Krishna. Prasidh did great in IPL 2025 and even won the Purple Cap, but red-ball cricket in England is different from T20 cricket.
English pitches help swing bowlers a lot, and Arshdeep is really good at swinging the ball both ways. He can pitch it up for swing and also bowl short balls when needed. This makes him a complete bowler for English conditions.
With the Dukes ball swinging for a longer time, he won’t just depend on the new ball. He can bowl during the middle of the innings and still make an impact. That’s a big plus for Team India, especially if Bumrah and Siraj are taking breaks during the match.
3. He Brings Variety with His Left-Arm Angle
Team India has always found success in England when they included a left-arm pacer. Zaheer Khan was a star in the 2007 series win, and his angle made things tough for English batters. Now, Arshdeep has the same chance.
India doesn’t have a regular left-arm pacer in Tests right now. Mohammed Shami is out, and Bumrah’s workload has to be managed carefully. Arshdeep’s left-arm option will bring balance to the attack and make it more challenging for the batters.
His angle, along with his swing and height, can create problems that Bumrah and Siraj might not. Also, teams like Sri Lanka and Australia have used left-arm pacers well in England. Mitchell Starc even topped the wicket charts in the 2023 Ashes. England themselves have given a debut to their young left-arm pacer Josh Hull.
So it’s clear that this type of bowler can do well in English conditions.
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