Arshdeep Singh found himself at the center of light-hearted jokes after his unexpected yet impactful batting performance led India A to a nail-biting two-wicket win against Australia A, ultimately sealing the series 2-1. His teammates playfully dubbed him the ‘Chris Gayle’ of the team for his pivotal 7 not out, following a stellar bowling display earlier in the game.
Following India A’s tense two-wicket victory over Australia A, pacer Arshdeep Singh became the subject of friendly banter among his teammates. A video shared by Arshdeep on his Snapchat captured Abhishek Sharma and Ravi Bishnoi playfully praising him for his unexpected batting cameo, which helped secure the series 2-1 at Green Park on Sunday.
In the clip, Abhishek was seen chuckling as he complimented Arshdeep’s crucial late-game hitting. “Watching you bat reminded me of Chris Gayle,” Abhishek remarked with a grin, leaving the left-arm quick momentarily stunned. Ravi Bishnoi also joined in the fun, asserting that his respect for the pacer had significantly increased after witnessing his composure with the bat under pressure.
Arshdeep, clearly amused by the unexpected comparisons, turned the camera towards himself and quipped with a smile, “You heard it here first.”
While the post-match banter quickly went viral, the match itself was a fiercely contested affair. Chasing a target of 317, India A appeared to be cruising at 262/3 in the 35th over, only to suffer a dramatic collapse, losing five wickets for a mere 39 runs. With the game on the brink, Vipraj Nigam and Arshdeep Singh showcased nerves of steel, forming an unbeaten 21-run partnership for the ninth wicket that guided their team to victory with 24 balls to spare.
Arshdeep, who arrived at the crease in the 44th over after Harshit Rana’s dismissal for a duck, faced just four balls. His vital six and unbeaten 7 runs, alongside Nigam’s composed 24 not out, were instrumental in taking India A across the finish line.
Earlier in the innings, Prabhsimran Singh’s explosive 68-ball 102 had provided a strong foundation for the chase, while captain Shreyas Iyer (62) and Riyan Parag (62) further propelled the momentum. Leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha and off-spinner Todd Murphy spearheaded a late fightback for Australia A, but ultimately, India’s lower order held firm against the pressure.
Earlier in the day, Arshdeep had also made a significant impact with the ball, striking early to dismiss Mackenzie Harvey (7) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (5). His strong all-round performance culminated in a joyous and humorous celebration within the dressing room.