Arshdeep Singh opens up on batting, bowling and support from fiancée Samreen Kau

Mount Maunganui: Arshdeep Singh has no complaints about batting at the bottom of the order. The left-arm pacer, who scored a brisk 14 at number 11 and then claimed three wickets as India beat New Zealand by 22 runs in the fifth ODI on Sunday, said he relishes every opportunity he gets with the bat.

Arshdeep struck two sixes in his four-ball 14, a cameo that came towards the end of India’s innings and helped the visitors reach 209. The total proved crucial as India secured a 3-1 series victory with a 22-run win.

“I love my batting. Even if I’m batting at 11, I enjoy it. And I’m always trying to create room for myself and smash it. But some people on my team say that I’m scared of the ball. But I take it. I create room,” Arshdeep said after receiving the Player of the Match award.

He also said the importance of the 26-run last-wicket partnership with Mohammed Siraj became clear to them once they left the field.

“Yes, that was the discussion when we finished batting as well. Siraj told me that these runs would be very crucial. And we made sure we went past 200. That was a thought in our minds: we had crossed a small milestone and had some runs to bowl at,” he said.

Arshdeep, who returned figures of 3/30, said the bowlers remained patient even when New Zealand’s batters did not fall early.

“I feel like we kept coming back and were very disciplined with our areas. We didn’t let go of that approach even when we were not getting the results or the wickets. But we kept bowling that way and eventually got the results. And yes, we won,” he said.

Away from the field, Arshdeep, who recently moved to Mumbai Indians through a trade, got engaged to his girlfriend, actor Samreen Kaur, at Mount Maunganui beach. He said his partner had been a major pillar of support.

“I mean, God has been really grateful and kind to me. I’ve got a really nice partner. She’s very supportive and always helps me stay in the right mindset. So, a lot of credit goes to her as well. The way I am on the field depends a lot on how I’m working off the field.

“So, yes, it’s been very exciting and I’m loving it. I couldn’t have asked for a better view for the occasion. I was pretty tense, but the view helped, and it feels pretty nice,” he concluded.