Arshdeep Singh needs time before transitioning to Test cricket: RP Singh

Former India seamer RP Singh in an exclusive interaction with India Today, opined Arshdeep Singh should focus on white-ball cricket for now, suggesting that he needs more time to transition into Test cricket, despite his recent T20I successes.

In Short

• RP Singh advised Arshdeep to delay Test cricket ambitions
• Arshdeep excelled in Gwalior, earning Player of the Match honors
• Arshdeep’s inclusion for the Australia tour remained undecided by selectors

Former India pacer RP Singh believes that Arshdeep Singh needs more time to develop before making the transition to Test cricket and should currently focus on his success in white-ball formats. Arshdeep has been a key player for India since the 2024 T20 World Cup, consistently delivering strong performances. However, with the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia approaching, there is growing speculation about whether Arshdeep will secure a spot in the Indian squad for the tour.

RP Singh, in exclusive interaction with India Today, acknowledged Arshdeep’s impressive recent showings with the white-ball and emphasised that the left-arm pacer should continue honing his skills in limited-overs cricket for now. Despite recognising Arshdeep’s potential, Singh suggested that it would be wiser for the bowler to wait a bit longer before making the switch to Test cricket.

"He must have played a lot of red-ball cricket, that's why he got selected. You have to play a lot of red ball cricket at the domestic level, and he has also played County cricket. Personally, I don't think there are a lot of different areas when bowling with a red or white bowl. The white ball increases your number of variations, red ball increases your patience," RP Singh said.

"Arshdeep has skill. He has variations, which, according to my opinion, are for smaller formats. I think there's still time before he takes the test. I think he needs to tone himself for 1-2 years more and then shift his focus to Test cricket. For the time being, he should focus on white-ball cricket," RP Singh added.

Arshdeep Singh recently impressed with his red-ball performance during the 2024 Duleep Trophy, representing India-D. The 25-year-old claimed 13 wickets in just three matches, finishing as the fourth-highest wicket-taker of the tournament.

He recently showcased his abilities in the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior, where he delivered a match-winning performance, claiming 3 wickets for just 14 runs in his 4 overs. His crucial spell earned him the Player of the Match award and highlighted his value to India’s T20 squad. Despite this standout performance, RP Singh believes it is still uncertain whether Arshdeep will be included in the squad for the Australia series, where competition for fast-bowling spots is fierce.

With Jasprit Bumrah and other experienced pacers expected to be the leading choices for the upcoming series, Arshdeep might have to wait longer for his Test debut. While his white-ball form is undeniable, RP Singh’s advice to focus on limited-overs cricket suggests that Arshdeep’s Test cricket transition may take some time, allowing him to mature further as a bowler.