Arshdeep faced an incredible reaction on social media after dropping Asif Ali’s hold on Bishnoi’s bowling in the Super 4 game which India lost.
Bishnoi, however, had impressive 1/28 numbers in 4 overs and was easily the top bowler in his only chance at the continental event.
“Paaji mere sabse accche dost hai (Paaji is a dear friend). We all know that lost catches are an integral part of the game. It can happen with the best. It could well have been the reverse where he was bowling and He I happened to drop the hold,” Bishnoi, who played 10 T20Is for India in 2022, told PTI in an interaction.
“Arshdeep is one of the bravest boys I know. After that take, you saw how he came and played to death. He never seemed like he was unsettled. That’s his strength mental,” said the Rajasthani man, who is on stand-by for the ICC T20 World Cup.
Work on developing a powerful leg break
With 16 wickets and a save rate of 7.08, Bishnoi has been impressive in the chances he has for India in the shorter version.
But after missing the T20 World Cup bus to a very senior and accomplished Yuzvendra Chahalthe common question is if he becomes a one-dimensional option with googly as his only powerful weapon.
“No one from the team management pushed me to develop a broken leg,” the Jodhpur player said.
In fact, former leg spinner Sairaj Bahutule, who also happens to be one of the bowling coaches who travels with the team, told him not to worry.
“I had spoken to Sairaj sir and he told me it was fine as long as I was working on this variation. He told me ‘Yes you are trying to develop a powerful leg and one day you will definitely perform it at perfection. I’m working on it and hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later,” Bishnoi said.
In fact, wrist spinning is one of the most difficult arts in cricket and Bishnoi knows he can’t be afraid of batters giving him the charge.
“You shouldn’t be afraid of being hit or when the batter is attacking. Depending on the situation, I play a lot of pinball and top spinners. You have to analyze the game situation and play accordingly.”
Yuzi bhai tells me to “enjoy” and “be fearless”
It’s not always easy if your competitor is as skilled a bowler as Chahal, but Bishnoi relishes every moment of working with the senior wrist spinner.
“Yuzi bhai didn’t tell me anything specific (about bowling with leg jump). He always tells me that every moment you are on the floor you should enjoy it and as a couple we should try to play well in tandem, which is good for the team.”
Bishnoi feels comfortable in both types of roles, attacking and restrictive.
“You have to play a specific role that is assigned. Sometimes it can be a gatekeeper role and sometimes it can be a restrictive role. For me, the most important aspect is that I didn’t waste any opportunities, whatever be the chances I have I have, I tried my best to use it.”
“The locker room accepted me with open arms”
Bishnoi has now been playing sporadically for India for seven months but being in that dressing room environment with some of the best players in the world has helped him through his learning curve.
“It was the best moment of my life when I was called up by India and my coaches were delighted. It has been a great journey so far with the team as we have won almost all the bilateral competitions and only the Asian Cup didn’t come our way.”
Bishnoi will be the brand face of Super4, the latest entrant in the game business which allows cricket fans and enthusiasts across India to create teams before a match starts. Super 4 offers fans the first ever cricket scoreboard in India, allowing fans and enthusiasts to create fantastic scoreboards.
He was also announced as the title sponsor for the inaugural match of the upcoming inaugural League of Legends match between Indian maharajas and world giants to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
