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'Was Thinking I Would Be Culprit' - Arshdeep Singh After 20th Over Heist

image-lpql6s93Arshdeep Singh after bowling a 3-run last over in Bengaluru (AP Photo)

Proven to be India's most expensive bowler on the night, Arshdeep Singh made amends and emerged as a hero for the side with an exceptional 20th over in the fifth and final T20I against Australia on Sunday (December 3) in Bangalore. 

The young left-arm pacer, who had struggled for clarity and control with his plans and execution throughout his first three overs to concede 1/37, finished with 2/40 off his quota after a memorable final over where he aced his yorkers against Aussie maverick Matthew Wade and pulled off a six-run heist for India. 

It wasn't until the bowler had aced his final delivery, however, did Arshdeep breathed a sigh of relief as he had felt wary of becoming the "culprit" of the night with the ball. The very reason he was bowling the 20th was that skipper Suryakumar Yadav couldn't trust him to bowl any of the overs leading into it and banked on safer pace options Mukesh Kumar (3/39) and Avesh Khan (0/39) to make a match out of it. 


Arshdeep Singh On Final-Over Reversal Of Fortunes

Speaking to the broadcasters after India's win secured them a 4-1 series victory, Arshdeep admitted he was a couple of boundaries shy of becoming the one who lost his side the match as they went about defending a par score of 160/8 on a dry, tacky pitch and had Australia 102/4 at one stage. 

"I guess for the big part of the game, for almost the first 19 overs, I was thinking that I gave away too many runs and would be the culprit of the game," Arshdeep said. "But god gave me another chance and I believed in myself. Thanks to god that I defended it and thanks to the staff as well who believed in me."

The 24-year-old also revealed the conversation with his captain before he was handed the ball for the 20th over and said the backing provided under pressure helped him persist with his strengths. 

"To be honest, nothing was going through my mind. Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] bhai told me that whatever happens, happens. The credit goes to our batters as well. They gave us a really good total here on a tricky wicket and we had a cushion of an extra 15 to 20 runs," he added.