Dharamshala, Dec 15 (NationPress) India’s left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh attributed his impressive performance in the third T20I against South Africa to adhering to fundamentals and taking advantage of the conducive conditions in Dharamsala.

Arshdeep recorded figures of 2-13 in his four overs, laying the groundwork for a commanding seven-wicket victory over South Africa at the HPCA Stadium on Sunday and earned the Player of the Match title.

“Nothing changed. I simply focused on pitching the ball in the right spots and sought to gain as much assistance from the wicket as possible. The conditions were cold, which provided ample swing and seam. I just kept it simple, targeted the right areas, and was rewarded,” Arshdeep remarked after the match.

He expressed satisfaction in bouncing back after a lackluster performance in New Chandigarh, stating, “When I stepped onto the field, everyone mentioned that this is also my home ground. I quickly clarified that this is not my home ground, which felt reassuring.”

“I concentrated on sticking to the basics, executing them correctly, and trusting my abilities. At this level, there are days when you don’t perform as intended. The last game was just one off day, so it feels gratifying to bowl well today.”

Regarding the review discussion on Reeza Hendricks, Arshdeep said, “Surya bhai wanted to create some suspense. As soon as it hit the pad, I was confident it was out. Once I received the go-ahead from Jitesh, we decided to proceed with the review, although he wanted to discuss it for a moment first.”

When asked about the review for Dewald Brevis that didn’t take place, Arshdeep chuckled, “As a bowler, I want to take every review available. I believed it struck the pad twice, which created some confusion. I’ll handle that better next time.”

Varun Chakaravarthy, the wrist spinner who finished with figures of 2-11 and became the second fastest Indian to 50 men’s T20I wickets, acknowledged the challenge of the cold conditions but praised the team’s preparations. “I was unaware of the milestone, so thank you for informing me. There was some seam movement when the fast bowlers were bowling, particularly early on.”

“Overall, the conditions were quite tough. I’ve never competed in such cold weather at a ground, which was challenging. This kind of chill is unheard of in Chennai.

When asked what changed following the defeat in New Chandigarh, Chakaravarthy shared, “We held a thorough bowling meeting and had honest discussions. We pinpointed our errors and concentrated on the correct approach. The management and bowlers deserve credit. It was a collaborative dialogue, and it proved effective.”

On his success mantra, Chakaravarthy noted, “I aimed to stick to my strengths. Today, the ball skidded more than it turned, so I focused on delivering the ball onto the batter rather than forcing excessive turn. It’s a great feeling to be the second fastest to reach 50 T20I wickets. As long as I’m contributing to India and taking wickets, I’ll feel accomplished.”