IPL 2023: “Matchups are overrated these days”, Arshdeep Singh

Team India’s young sensation Arshdeep Singh made his way into the national side after performing consistently for his IPL side Punjab Kings. Arshdeep believes the word ‘matchups’ is overrated these days as it’s more important to see which players are actually doing well for their side.

Arshdeep Singh, while speaking during a media interaction organized by Parimatch Sports, said that people sometimes give more importance to ‘matchups’ than the quality of players. The young pacer was also asked if he enjoys playing alongside another left-arm pacer.

“I love the word ‘matchups’ here. I think it’s overrated these days. People do play according to matchups, but both right-handers and left-handers bring different skills to the table. As long as the team gets results, it just comes down to who’s doing well,” Arshdeep said ahead of IPL 2023.

“If the team is doing well with three right-handers, then left-handers aren’t needed. And vice versa. Yes, we do need variations and things like that, but keeping things simple is the most important thing. Left-armers and right-armers are needed only if they are doing well,” he further added.

IPL 2023: Punjab Kings’ pace bowling combination

Along with Arshdeep Singh, the Punjab Kings have got the likes of Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada and Nathan Ellis. This makes their pace bowling lineup quite lethal. The Punjab Kings have made sure that they have enough options for the death overs.

Arshdeep Singh has proved himself both with the new ball and in the death overs. At the same time, Kagiso Rabada too has the ability to bowl in almost all conditions of the game. Sam Curran has also developed his death bowling skills in recent times.

Sam Curran was bought by Punjab Kings for a whopping INR 18.5 crore in the IPL 2023 auction. The franchise will expect him to deliver in the death overs as he did for England in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Punjab Kings will also strategize how to use the two left arms in tandem.

Arshdeep Singh has till now played 37 matches in IPL for the Punjab Kings. The left-arm pacer has already scalped 40 wickets and has proved himself as one of the key players for the Punjab-based franchise. Despite regularly bowling in the death overs, he has an economy rate of just 8.35.