BENGALURU: Pacer Arshdeep Singh’s last red-ball appearance before the ongoing 2026-27 domestic season-opener came in the Duleep Trophy last season.The Punjab pacer, primarily a white-ball specialist, always carries both a red and a white ball in his kit bag — a reflection of his desire to play all formats.He had also put in the red-ball work during the off-season before coming here. The effort showed as Arshdeep, representing North Zone, bowled with good rhythm, even on a pitch that favoured the spinners during the quarterfinal against West Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence here.On occasions, he managed to get the red cherry to move, offering a quiet reminder to the selectors of his biggest strength.“The goal is always to represent India, be it any format. I’m no exception; I want to play all three formats, and I rarely get a chance to play red-ball cricket. This was a chance, and I just wanted to showcase my skill set and see how many overs I can bowl. It is nice to get the win,” said the left-arm pacer.The 27-year-old earned his maiden Test call-up for India’s England tour last year, only to suffer a hand injury ahead of the fourth Test and see a potential debut opportunity slip away.Arshdeep made his first-class debut in Dec 2019 and is still waiting for his India cap in the longest format, despite having played 18 ODIs and 91 T20Is. His desire to test himself over longer spells, however, has remained intact.His stint with Kent in county cricket in 2023 was further evidence that he is willing to embrace the rigours of red-ball cricket.The message from the Indian team management, he said, has been clear: “Perform wherever you get a chance and just keep delivering. When the time is right, you will get your chance.”Arshdeep will now look to make the most of another opportunity when he leads North’s attack against South in the semifinal starting on Sunday.
