Injury shadow on Arshdeep for final game: Team management unwilling to take risk on pacer with eye on NZ series

India could be without Arshdeep Singh for the final T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru on Saturday. The series is tied 2-2.

The New Zealand series begins within almost a week and the team management is unwilling to risk the left-arm pacer, an integral part of the squad in the shortest format.

The 27-year-old pacer accompanied the squad to their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and then returned to Bengaluru in the evening. He will
be assessed by the medical team and could undergo further tests.

Arshdeep was hit on his left upper arm by a short ball from Shamar Joseph in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday and retired hurt on 5 off 4 balls. The BCCI hasn’t provided any update but it is understood that the pacer could be rested for the final game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

He came in to bat at No. 11 as India needed 30 runs from the last over. Joseph bowled a quick short ball to which Arshdeep tried to move away and pull, but the ball struck him near the left shoulder. He was down in pain and discomfort while the physio and support staff rushed onto the field.

While he decided to bat on, the next delivery was another vicious bouncer aimed at his body. It went wide and flew down to fine leg boundary.

It was then that Arshdeep again clutched onto his shoulder and walked off. Arshdeep had already had a tough match with the ball, conceding 52 runs for just the wicket of Rovman Powell.

Sanju Samson was hopeful that Arshdeep would recover in time for the series decider on Saturday. “Arshdeep is putting ice on his shoulders. Hopefully he gets well soon. He got struck by a high-speed ball. Hope he recovers soon,” Samson said at the post-match news conference.

Joseph’s approach drew a sharp reaction from Sunil Gavaskar in the commentary box, who questioned the pacer’s intentions.

“He is aiming at him,” fumed Gavaskar. “Why attack the batter when the stumps are right there?”

“If he is not okay, he should retire. He seems to be in pain. You do not want to aggravate that injury,” said Gavaskar. “Would it not be simpler to just aim at the stumps? He (Joseph) knows that he is moving away to the left. Just aim at the stumps. Don’t aim at him.”

If Arshdeep misses the final match, India will have to depend upon Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy to shoulder the pace-bowling responsibilities.

India’s first match in the New Zealand series is on October 22 in Christchurch and in case Arshdeep is unable to make it, the squad will be weakened further in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is although making a comeback to the national side after four years.