Irfan Pathan Advises Arshdeep Singh to Focus on New Ball Bowling and Economy Ahead of IPL 2026 Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has highlighted a key weakness in Punjab Kings' squad ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) and urged fast bowler Arshdeep Singh to refine his performance with the new ball. Pathan, who recently shared insights on his YouTube channel, emphasized the need for Arshdeep to improve his swing and control, particularly when bowling with the new ball, to maximize his impact for the team. Arshdeep, a key player for Punjab Kings, has been a consistent performer in the tournament, securing 127 wickets in his career. However, Pathan pointed out that the bowler has struggled to maintain his effectiveness with the new ball in recent matches. "Arshdeep is still taking wickets, but he needs to focus more on bowling with the new ball," Pathan said. "In the past year, he hasn’t been able to generate much swing, which is a concern." Pathan also raised concerns about Arshdeep’s economy rate, which has increased from 8.29 in the 2025 Asia Cup to 9.05 since then. The former captain noted that after the Asia Cup, Arshdeep’s figures have shown a slight decline, particularly in his ability to control the new ball. "His numbers have dipped, especially with the new ball, and he needs to work on that," Pathan added. Arshdeep’s performance in the T20 format has been notable, with a strong record in the powerplay overs. During the 2024 T20 World Cup, he played a crucial role in India’s victory, taking 17 wickets at an economy rate of 7.16. He is ranked among the top fast bowlers in the powerplay, trailing only Bhuvneshwar Kumar in India’s bowling hierarchy. In the powerplay, Arshdeep has taken 90 wickets in 161 matches at an economy rate of 8.24.#ipl_2026 #irfan_pathan #arshdeep_singh #punjab_kings #asia_cup
