Arshdeep Singh Poised for Test Debut in Series Finale at The Oval

India’s tour of England has thrown up plenty of twists, and the final Test at The Oval looks set to bring another big moment: Arshdeep Singh is in line to make his Test debut. The left-arm pacer, who missed the Manchester Test after a nasty cut on his bowling hand required stitches, has now recovered and is ready to step onto the biggest stage in red-ball cricket.

Arshdeep’s call-up to the Test squad for this England series had already raised plenty of excitement. For the first three matches, though, he had to bide his time as Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna were chosen to spearhead the pace attack in the opener, while Akash Deep came in for the second and third Tests. Just when it seemed Arshdeep might finally get a look-in, he picked up the injury in the nets before Manchester, ruling him out of action. With Akash also sidelined, India handed an unexpected debut to Anshul Kamboj, who wasn’t even part of the original squad. 

Now, with Jasprit Bumrah being rested after three grueling Tests, reports suggest Arshdeep is all set to become India’s 319th Test cricketer at The Oval. According to The Times of India, he is expected to slot in alongside Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep, who has recovered from his groin issue, giving India a three-pronged pace attack. 

Arshdeep isn’t a stranger to the longer format. He’s played 21 first-class games for Punjab, picking up 66 wickets at an average of 30, numbers that underline his red-ball credentials. He also has the unique advantage of experience in English conditions, having turned out for Kent in County cricket. That knowledge of how the Duke’s ball behaves could prove invaluable against England’s aggressive batting lineup. 

What makes him stand out in this Indian pace unit is the angle he brings. Left-arm fast bowlers have always added variety and a touch of unpredictability, and Arshdeep has that knack of shaping the new ball away before pounding in with a heavy delivery that can surprise even set batters. His white-ball career is filled with examples of batters undone by his short ball, and India will hope he can carry that threat into the Test arena. 

With the series still up for grabs, India can’t afford to go into the final match with underperforming bowlers. The management has shown a preference for depth with the bat, often sacrificing a specialist bowler, but at The Oval, they may be tempted to play their best wicket-taking options. That means Arshdeep and Akash Deep look almost certain to feature, unless Kuldeep Yadav gets the nod to add spin variety. 

Head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed after the Old Trafford draw that all bowlers are fit and available, which clears the path for Arshdeep’s big day. If he does make his debut, it won’t just be a milestone for him but also a chance to tilt a tightly contested series in India’s favor. 

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