Indian left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is excited to return to Kent, a place that holds fond memories from his previous stint in county cricket. As India prepares for its five-match Test series against England starting June 20, the 26-year-old is keen to fine-tune his red-ball skills in familiar surroundings.
Currently involved in a four-day warm-up fixture against India A at the Kent County Cricket Ground in Beckenham starting from June 13, Arshdeep is looking to earn his maiden Test cap following his inclusion in India's team for the series.
While best-known for his work in white-ball cricket, Arshdeep enjoyed a fine Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with Punjab Kings, who made the final. He now finds himself looking to get back to red-ball cricket.
"Regarding today's training session, my only motivation was to gain a sense of rhythm— how the body feels, how the red ball is exiting the hand— since all the players have been practicing with the white ball for quite some time. So I thoroughly enjoyed it," he said.
"Ahead, as we continue to move step by step, the intensity will continue to rise and we'll continue making it more and more challenging for the batters to play the ball."
With stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having stepped away from Test duties, India will be led by new captain Shubman Gill. The team also features several young batters, including Sai Sudharsan and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who are eager to make an impact.
Arshdeep shared his enjoyment of bowling during practice, appreciating the competitiveness and the challenge it brought.
It was enjoyable bowling to the batsmen. They appeared very compact, and there was a competitive element—even though we were merely practicing rhythm, they were competitively going at it. So that was even more enjoyable.
“We had to grind properly and try to get them out with a solid plan. Sai has joined the team for the first time, and he looked very compact too. The skipper looked in good touch. I’ll try my best to keep improving and get them out more often going ahead.”
Training with India's top fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is another major highlight for Arshdeep, who appreciates the chance to learn and develop in a pace-abundant team.
"Whenever I am holding the ball, I always feel that I am the best. But everyone knows—when you're in an attack that includes a player named Jasprit Bumrah, then the word 'comparison' doesn't even exist," Arshdeep conceded.
“So, the focus is on how we can improve each other’s game, each other’s skill sets—and how we can help the team. That’s where my focus lies.”
Reflecting on his earlier stint with Kent in the County Championship, Arshdeep expressed his affection for the peaceful English town and the sense of familiarity he feels returning to it.
“It feels really good to be here. At first, you get that ‘homely’ feeling, that yes, I’ve spent two months here before, so it feels great. I’m really looking forward to creating many more memories here,” he said.
“It’s a small place, very peaceful. Not many people around. If you need peace of mind, this is the best place—because there’s always a cool breeze blowing, a soft warmth from the sun, and when you sip hot chocolate in that setting, it’s pure bliss. And if you have a sweet tooth, make sure to have some churros with it,” he added with a smile.
India's first Test in the series against England is to start on June 20 in Leeds.
Read also| Shubman Gill Leads Indian Squad as They Arrive in UK for England Test Series
