"I used to enjoy it a lot…" Arshdeep Singh reveals he was inspired by Wasim Akram and Zaheer Khan's bowling videos

Arshdeep Singh recently became the first Indian bowler to clinch 100 wickets in T20I cricket.

Indian Cricket Team pacer Arshdeep Singh has revealed that he was inspired by watching videos of former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram and Indian bowling legend Zaheer Khan in his childhood. The left-arm pacer also revealed that he learnt a lot of skills by watching their videos.

The 26-year-old pacer has cemented his place in India’s T20I team over the last three years following his international debut in 2022. During Asia Cup 2025 last month, he became the first Indian bowler to clinch 100 wickets in the shortest format.

At an economy of 8.37, Arshdeep has clinched 101 scalps in 65 T20Is so far. He is widely appreciated for his death-over bowling skills. During the Super Four clash against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2025, he helped the team to win in the super over by leaking just two runs.

I really liked Wasim Akram’s compilation videos: Arshdeep Singh

During a conversation with Gaurav Kapur on “Breakfast with Champions,” Arshdeep revealed that he followed Wasim Akram and Zaheer Khan’s videos in his childhood and learnt a lot from them.

“All left-arm pacers’ videos that are on YouTube, I don’t think I’ve missed any yet. If I used to watch Yorkers, I really liked Wasim Akram’s compilation videos. Saare videos mey bas dande uda rhe (In all the videos, he was only hitting the stumps),” he said.

“A left-arm seamer bowling those in-swingers and reverse swing to right-handed batters, I used to enjoy it a lot…what a skill he had. If I am watching reverse swing, then I watch the videos of Zaheer Khan as well,” he added.

The left-arm pacer also added that pace bowling requires a lot of effort and he underwent a lot of practice to develop his skills.

“This is a skill where you have to put in a lot of effort. Even if you open [Lasith] Malinga’s interviews and watch them, he also says the same thing – this is not a skill you will learn at once. My father and my coach have told me that the more you practice it, the more you will achieve mastery in it. If you are bowling with 80% effort in practice, it becomes half of that in a match,” he said.

Meanwhile, Arshdeep is pulling his socks up for the upcoming India’s tour of Australia 2025. He is named in both ODI and T20I squads for the campaign. India and Australia will clash in three ODIs from October 19 to 25. Later, both sides will lock horns in five T20Is from October 29 to November 8.

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