Arshdeep Singh’s spell of extras becomes a saga of wild wides in New Chandigarh
Arshdeep Singh
NEW DELHI — India’s pace sensation Arshdeep Singh briefly lost his accuracy on Thursday during the second T20I against South Africa in New Chandigarh. In the 11th over of the South African innings, the left-arm quick delivered not one, not two, but seven wides in a single over.
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With Quinton de Kock on strike, Arshdeep attempted wide yorkers but misfired spectacularly, sending six wides to the off-side and one to the leg side. The over began with de Kock launching the first ball to the boundary for six. He followed with two consecutive wides as Arshdeep tried to bowl full and wide outside off, missing the tramline both times. After delivering the second legal ball of the over as a dot, Arshdeep unleashed four more wides in a row, again trying to pitch well outside off. He then bowled three legitimate deliveries and added another wide—the seventh of the over—which, this time, came down the leg side.
Meanwhile, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir looked visibly frustrated as the over stretched to 13 balls and 18 runs. Earlier in the match, India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first in the second T20I.
India, leading the five-match series 1-0, fielded an unchanged XI. South Africa, meanwhile, made three changes, bringing in Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock, and Aiden Markram, while dropping Tristan Stubbs, Keshav Maharaj, and Anrich Nortje.
Playing XI summaries:
- India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.
- South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Aiden Markram (captain), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, George Linde, Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman.
But here’s the thing to take away: even the best bowlers can have a day where control slips, and one over can redefine a spell. The wider question for fans and analysts is how teams manage rhythm and risk in tight T20 scenarios, and what adjustments a bowler and captain pair can make after a costly over.
Would you agree that such moments are as much about mindset and plans as they are about line and length? And which strategies would you favor to prevent a single over from dominating a match narrative? Share your thoughts in the comments.
