"You don't get 100 wickets just like that" - Aakash Chopra lauds Indian star's spell in IND vs SA 2025 3rd T20I

Former India player Aakash Chopra has lauded Arshdeep Singh for bouncing back brilliantly in the third T20I against South Africa. While observing that Arshdeep wouldn't have taken more than 100 T20I wickets just like that, he also praised the left-arm seamer for his light-hearted banter.

Arshdeep registered figures of 2/13 in four overs as India bowled South Africa out for 117 in Dharamsala on Sunday, December 14. The hosts then achieved the target with seven wickets and 25 balls to spare to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener praised Arshdeep for staging a comeback after an indifferent spell in the second T20I in New Chandigarh.

"Arshdeep Singh, even if he got hit for 50 runs one day and it became the longest over, but knows how to bounce back. You don't get 100 wickets just like that. I am liking another thing about Arshdeep Singh a lot. It's the human aspect, which we discard many times," Chopra said. (6:40)

Chopra appreciated the Punjab seamer for bringing his lighter side to the fore despite the immense pressure on him.

"You won't score runs or take wickets every day, but it is okay to be human. He is saying interesting things, as he said in the post-match presentation that he didn't believe this is his home ground. That is on a lighter note, because how will you remain alive or perform every day in this pressure situation if you don't live your life and remain human? I like the way he is conducting himself," he elaborated.

The cricketer-turned-commentator compared Arshdeep to Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his ability to swing the new ball.

"He picked up two wickets and the way he bowled with the new ball, honestly, he is the left-arm Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the way the ball listens to him. The seam remains so upright, and how good his wrist position is, I love him to bits," Chopra observed.

Arshdeep Singh trapped Reeza Hendricks lbw for a duck in the first over of South Africa's innings. He later had Aiden Markram (61 off 46) caught behind by Jitesh Sharma in the penultimate over of the innings.

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"He is an integral part of the attack" - Aakash Chopra on Arshdeep Singh after IND vs SA 2025 3rd T20I

Arshdeep Singh (left) and Jasprit Bumrah formed a successful new-ball pair in the 2024 T20 World Cup. [P/C: Getty]

Speaking on Star Sports, Aakash Chopra noted that India will have to play Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah in tandem in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

"He is an integral part of the attack. We are playing in December currently and then we will play five T20Is towards the end of January. Then we have to play the World Cup in February and March. I am convinced that we will have to play both fast bowlers," he said.

The analyst highlighted that new-ball wickets could define the course of the game.

"Very few bowlers have the ability to swing the ball both ways with this control in the first over itself. Picking up wickets with the new ball is the make-or-break difference. It is this guy's specialty and ability. I think that should be celebrated," Chopra observed.

Arshdeep Singh has picked up 109 wickets at an economy rate of 8.35 in 70 T20I innings. He was the first Indian to 100 T20I wickets, with Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya becoming the second and third bowlers, respectively, to achieve the milestone during the ongoing series against South Africa.

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Edited by Kartik Iyer