Last week, Team India's roster for the upcoming Test tour of England next month was revealed by BCCI's chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, and it included a few newcomers. One of them was Arshdeep Singh, a left-arm pacer who has consistently represented India in the white-ball formats. Singh has been a fixture in the team's T20I lineup since 2022, and he also established himself in the ODI lineup last year. Arshdeep has earned the team management's confidence for a call-up in the longest format after his outstanding displays in both, home and foreign settings.

The Indian attack, which includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, and Shardul Thakur, only has Arshdeep as its lone left-arm pacer. But Ricky Ponting, who is also the head coach of Punjab Kings and works with Arshdeep, thinks that Arshdeep should be considered for a place in the playing XI for the first Test of the series, which begins on June 20.

Ponting informed The ICC Review, "He's very talented; I would have him in their Test team at the beginning."

"I believe the Dukes ball will also be beneficial to him in the United Kingdom. It would be a little bit of a shock to me if India didn't have a left-armer on their squad, since I believe it would give them that point of distinction.

Ponting said that the experience would help the left-armer, who played for Kent in the County Championships in 2023.

“He's played county cricket and he knows the conditions there as well,” Ponting observed.

"Arshdeep is almost six feet four inches tall, therefore he will get a good bounce...as we know in England the ball still swings even after it has been bowled for 30, 40, or 50 overs.

On that trip, the Indian squad should pay close attention to anyone who has the swing bowling technique and is a left-armer.

Arshdeep receives applause

Additionally, Ponting disclosed that the team meeting's first action after the India squad was chosen was to clap for Arshdeep's selection.

The Test squad was announced the other day, and the first thing I did at our team meeting was to acknowledge that Arshdeep had been selected in front of everyone and simply congratulate him in front of everyone else.

"I think it's well deserved. In England, I believe he will also bowl well," stated Ponting.

Read Also: Punjab Kings Coach Clarifies Shreyas Iyer’s Reaction to India Test Omission: ‘Selection Wasn’t My Call’

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