Arshdeep Singh Eyes Test Breakthrough After Impressive Duleep Trophy Return

Indian pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh has reignited his ambitions for a Test match debut, signaling his intent with a commanding performance in the ongoing 2026 Duleep Trophy. The left-arm quick, a stalwart of India’s white-ball setup with 18 ODIs and 91 T20Is to his name, made a long-awaited return to the red-ball format, spearheading North Zone to a gritty 52-run victory over West Zone in Bengaluru.

Arshdeep’s return to the longest format was highly effective, as he claimed impressive figures of 3/53 and 1/40 across the two innings. The performance marked his first first-class appearance in nearly a year, a hiatus he attributes to the relentless demands of international white-ball cricket.

Embracing the Red-Ball Challenge

Reflecting on his return to the longer format, Arshdeep emphasized the unique satisfaction that comes with the red-ball game.

“[It is] very rarely do I get the chance to play red-ball cricket, and this was a chance,” Arshdeep said following the victory. “I wanted to showcase my skill set and see how many overs I can bowl. The rhythm feels nice. After a long time, I was playing a red-ball game. I put in a lot of hours in practice, and it felt nice. The body is sore, but it’s a good sore because we got the win.”

To prepare for the rigorous demands of the Duleep Trophy, the 27-year-old adjusted his training regimen, moving away from white-ball specific drills to focus on the nuances of bowling with the red ball. Under the guidance of North Zone head coach Ajay Sharma, Arshdeep noted the patience required in first-class cricket.

“Ajay Sharma just told me that even if you don’t get wickets with the new ball, you have a chance to come back in the second spell,” he added. “Red ball has that beauty of giving you a chance again.”

Balancing Domestic Commitments and Overseas Ambitions

While Arshdeep previously gained valuable experience during a five-match stint in England’s County Championship with Kent in 2023, he admits that the modern international calendar makes such opportunities increasingly difficult to schedule.

“Whenever you get a chance, whenever there is a time frame you can go to England to play county cricket, that is a really good experience,” Arshdeep explained. “But now, with the IPL, the white-ball season at home, and domestic cricket also going on, you can’t go play county. There are crucial games getting played here. We want to push our domestic cricket as well and make sure the level doesn’t drop down.”

Tactically Astute

Playing on the surface in Bengaluru, Arshdeep highlighted the mental evolution required to succeed in domestic conditions, where bowlers often have to rely on tactical deception rather than pure lateral movement.

“On wickets like this, you just have to play with the mind,” he noted. “Sometimes you get success, sometimes you get hit for an across-the-line six as well. So you have to take both and just keep trying.”

With his sights firmly set on earning a call-up to the Indian Test squad, Arshdeep’s Duleep Trophy showing serves as a timely reminder of his adaptability and desire to prove himself in the game’s most challenging format.