I would be surprised if India do not play Arshdeep Singh in England straightaway: Ricky Ponting

Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) head coach Ricky Ponting said that Arshdeep Singh is a great character to have in the dressing room, who is very laid-back around the group. Arshdeep has been playing for PBKS since 2019. He is the leading wicket-taker for the franchise this season, having bagged 18 wickets in 14 games.

The 26-year-old is India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is. However, he has never had the opportunity to represent the national team in the red-ball format. This, however, might change next month as he has been named in India’s 18-man squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against England.

Ponting said that after the squad was announced and Arshdeep was selected, he made it a point to announce the good news during a team meeting.

“I’ve had a good chance to get to know him really well. He’s a great character to have around the team. He’s a fun-loving guy. He’s very laid-back around the group, which is great. Which is what we all like,” Ponting said of Arshdeep while speaking to the ICC Review.

“As soon as the squad was announced the other day, the Test squad, the first thing I did in our team meeting was to make sure that I acknowledged that Arshdeep had been picked in front of everybody and just congratulated him in front of everybody. I think it’s well deserved. I think he’ll bowl well in England as well,” he added.

I would actually have him in their Test team at the start: Ponting

Ponting feels that Arshdeep would do well with the Dukes ball in England, and his experience of playing County cricket will come in handy. The former Australia skipper said that he would be surprised if India don’t pick him in the playing XI straightaway.

“I would actually have him in their Test team at the start. He’s very skillful. I think the Dukes ball will help him in the UK as well. And I just think to have that point of difference, having a left-armer in your team, I think will be something that, if India don’t do it then it’ll be a bit of a surprise to me,” Ponting said.

“He’s played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well. Arshdeep is close to six-foot-four, so he’s going to get decent bounce…as we know in England the ball still swings when it is 30, 40 or 50 overs old. To have someone that’s got that swing bowling ability and a left-armer I think is something that the Indian team should definitely look out for on that tour,” he added.

PBKS are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Thursday, May 29.