“Welcome To The Club” – Arshdeep Singh’s Cheeky Message To Bumrah In IND vs SA 1st T20I

Team India’s new-ball bowler Arshdeep Singh shared the message he gave Jasprit Bumrah during the opening T20I of the five-match series against South Africa on Tuesday, December 9, in Cuttack. After Bumrah completed 100 wickets in T20Is, Arshdeep jokingly welcomed the senior pacer “to the club.”

Bumrah had entered the match with 99 wickets and reached the milestone in the 11th over when Dewald Brevis miscued a back-of-a-length delivery straight to Suryakumar Yadav at cover. The soft signal prompted a no-ball check, but the decision went in Bumrah’s favor. While speaking to the host broadcaster, Arshdeep Singh said, as per ESPNcricinfo:

“I just told him [Bumrah], ‘welcome to the 100 club.'”

Jasprit Bumrah has now become the second Indian bowler, after Arshdeep, to achieve the landmark of 100 wickets in T20Is.

“Wanted To Hit The Seam Hard” – Arshdeep Singh

After taking 2 wickets for 14 runs in 2 overs, the young bowler said his plan was to hit the seam hard to extract some assistance from the wicket. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline on the surface, adding:

“Thought process is simple, just go there and use as much as there in the wicket. If you are hitting the seam hard, there was something in the wicket. The idea was to hit the seam hard and get something out of the wicket. I am just trying to enjoy the present and have fun. It is very rare you get to play on such kind of wickets where there is swing and seam. I just wanted to stay disciplined.”

Hardik Pandya claimed the Player of the Match award with an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls and a wicket, helping India secure a 101-run victory while defending 175. Only four South African batters reached double figures, marking their lowest T20I total. The second T20I is scheduled in New Chandigarh on Thursday.