Is Arshdeep Singh ready for India in Tests? His 30.68 first-class average with the ball highlights areas to improve for a stronger red-ball case.
When Arshdeep Singh was picked in India’s squad for the five-match Test series in England, everyone predicted him to make his red-ball debut. And why not? Being a left-arm pacer, he brings a different angle into the attack. Moreover, he is equally capable of swinging the ball both ways, and in England’s conditions, that is always an advantage with the Dukes ball.
But surprisingly, by the end of the seven-week series, the Punjab bowler hadn’t made his Test debut yet. He was supposed to be playing the fourth Manchester fixture. But a thumb injury in the warm-up ruled him out of Old Trafford and Kennington Oval Test.
Arshdeep Singh’s slow progress in Test cricket
Arshdeep is learning to navigate the tough period of red-ball cricket. He spent the last few months refining his mindset ahead of the upcoming season. In India’s T20I side, he has already cemented his place with 99 wickets in 63 innings at an economy rate of 8.29. But the same can’t be said for the longest format.
The Madhya Pradesh-born has not been a consistent member in the Ranji Trophy clashes. Since making his debut in December 2019 against Vidarbha, he has featured in 22 first-class games. That’s less than an average of four games per season. It won’t be possible for him to build his body to bowl long spells.
Meanwhile, in those 38 FC innings, the left-arm pacer has picked up only 67 wickets. His average of more than 30 and a strike rate of over 57 are not promising to make a Test debut. For the North Zone, in the Duleep Trophy 2025/26, against East Zone in Bengaluru, he played his last competitive game before the Asia Cup 2025.
Before this four-day clash, his last competitive game came during the IPL 2025. He finished as Punjab Kings’ leading wicket-taker with 21 scalps in 17 innings. To be on the bench for three months without a game is never easy. But on the second day of the game for the North Zone, he put in his hard work for 17 overs and picked up the lone wicket of opener, Sharandeep Singh.
“In the last couple of months I was with the team, I trained a lot, bowled a lot, and worked a lot with the S&C (strength and conditioning). I worked on fitness as well, and that helped me bowl a decent long spell. After 15-17 overs, my body feels well.” Arshdeep expressed, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
He was delighted with the ‘thousands of balls bowled in practice’ during the England trip. That never took his aim off bowling, as he was managing his workload properly to be ready to get a chance.
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Can Arshdeep Singh build himself as India’s future Test bowler?
Looking at the number of wickets the other pacers have taken in domestic cricket, it’s hard for Arshdeep Singh to get ahead of them. Moreover, he will have to make a quick but smooth switch to white-ball cricket. However, he denies to feel the pressure and insists it is adaptability.
“Right from the last Test (at The Oval), I had started practicing with a white ball. I didn’t know that there was a Duleep Trophy match in between. At the end of the day, red ball, white ball, or pink ball, you have to play cricket and try to enjoy it.” Arshdeep Singh reckoned.
“The aim is to put in a lot of overs under your belt and play any format. The mindset is about how quickly you can adapt. In today’s cricket, a ba can hit against the red ball, and he can play conservatively against a white ball.” The left-arm pacer added.
If India qualify for the Asia Cup 2025 final on September 28, then it would be hard for the Punjab pacer to turn up in the Irani Cup 2025. That contest starts on October 01. It will also be interesting to see if he retains his spot in the Blue Brigade Test squad for the home West Indies series. If he doesn’t, it should be a no-brainer for him to appear in the Ranji Trophy 2025/26, starting on October 15.
It won’t be an easy selection of the pacer in India’s Test side. Aaqib Nabi has already grabbed the headlines after his four wickets in four successive balls for the North Zone. A few other players are in discussions. This is where the Punjab bowler will have to do well in breaking partnerships and taking wickets.
At a young age, he could surely be part of India’s team across three formats. It’s just about finding rhythm and building a strong core with the ball. It will be interesting to see if it was an experiment from the selectors or if Arshdeep truly becomes a regular Test member. But as of now, it’s surely slow work in progress for the bowler in red-ball cricket.
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