Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin slammed Arshdeep Singh’s performance after Punjab Kings suffered a 23-run loss against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Dharamshala on Sunday. Ashwin pointed out that Singh is bowling wide yorkers, but he is not setting his field accordingly.
Singh returned with expensive figures of 1-43 in his quota of four overs against the defending champions. The left-arm seamer has scalped 14 wickets in 13 matches of the season at an average of 34.92 and a strike rate of 9.78.
Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “Arshdeep Singh is still a young boy. I am saying this because Arshdeep Singh is a very talented cricketer, a very talented bowler. But the way he has taken a lot of decisions this time while bowling on the field has left me a little surprised. Like I said last time as well, he is bowling wide yorkers without even setting a proper field for it. And in the death overs, when you should mainly stick to yorkers, he’s getting hit for sixes on slower balls into the pitch. These are all things that you are still trying to figure out, and they are things that should already be figured out.”
On the other hand, Ashwin also shed light on Priyansh Arya’s form, who has managed only 81 runs in the last five innings. The former CSK off-spinner said the opposition bowlers have worked out a plan on how to bowl against the PBKS opener, and he needs to counter those tactics.
“Last year, when he reached the final, it was largely a fabulous season for Priyansh Arya. So we have to remember that Priyansh Arya’s form has dipped a little this season. The reason for that is not really any major fault of Priyansh Arya himself. Bowlers have learned how to bowl to him better. They now know where to bowl to stop him and where he is likely to get out. Right now, this is a phase where Priyansh Arya needs to find answers. Priyansh Arya has to figure things out.”
Ashwin noted that Arya has looked slightly hesitant in his strokeplay in the recent past.
“It is almost there in his head that the bowler is going to bowl a certain delivery to him, so he is not stepping out as much. There is a bit of hesitation in his stroke play. Earlier, if the ball was pitched up, he would hit it over extra cover because that intent was natural. But now he is preparing for short balls as well, thinking too much in his mind because all the bowlers have him figured out to some extent. So he is not coming onto the front foot as much, and even when the balls are hittable, they are not being played with the same conviction.”
Punjab Kings will play their last league match against Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Saturday.
