If you ever find yourself listening to Salil Ankola discussing the craft of fast bowling, it’s worth dropping everything and paying attention. The former India pacer and selector has a way of breaking down the nuances of the trade that makes you lean in.
When the conversation shifts to
Arshdeep Singh, his words carry extra weight, offering a revealing glimpse into why the left-armer is seen as one of India’s brightest bowling hopes.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Ankola witnessed the exponential rise of the 26-year-old from close quarters. When he was part of the national selection committee (Jan 2023–Aug 2024), he often found himself watching the Punjab left-armer at work.
“I did about two tours with these guys (Indian team) as a selector. So, one thing which stood out, which I was really impressed with, was Arshdeep’s work ethic, how he handles pressure and the kind of effort he puts in,” Ankola recalled.
“He always trained to a plan. Some bowlers are content after 20 or 25 balls in the nets but Arshdeep would keep going — yorkers, slower balls, wide yorkers, bouncers. There was an eagerness to master his craft. And what helps is having someone like
Jasprit Bumrah around, unlike in our days when we had to figure things out ourselves. Bumrah is a down-to-earth guy. Always ready to help, give his invaluable inputs,” Ankola adds.
For Ankola, who came through in an era without specialist coaches or the luxury of video analysis, watching Arshdeep’s structured approach to training felt like a window into how much the game evolved — and how the youngster embraced that evolution. Much of Arshdeep’s evolution, Ankola says, is down to former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.
“Paras and I, having played cricket together, used to talk a lot about Arshdeep’s bowling. Paras worked hard on him and Arshdeep listened. The most important thing is that Arshdeep used to keep his ears open and his mouth shut — something very uncommon these days. He grasps things very well and then implements them,” says Ankola.
The results show. Arshdeep now bowls consistently quicker, regularly hitting the 140-plus range. Ankola credits the tweaks in his run-up and follow-through.
“Paras worked on his run-up and follow-through, which resulted in him becoming quicker. Earlier, his run-up was slightly diagonal. Now, it’s straighter, which gives him rhythm and pace. His follow-through too is more direct. And the best part is how he uses the crease — something you don’t often see anymore.”
That versatility — angling the ball in, pushing it wide, mixing seam and swing — is what turned him from a promising IPL product into an international match-winner.
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