NEW DELHI: Arshdeep Singh, the emerging Indian pacer, playfully credited a photo shoot with fellow bowler Avesh Khan for boosting his performance in the 1st ODI against South Africa.
Both Arshdeep and Avesh played crucial roles in India's convincing 8-wicket victory, where they dismantled the Proteas by bowling in tandem, restricting them to a mere 116 – South Africa's lowest ODI total on home soil.
In a light-hearted moment after the game, Arshdeep jokingly acknowledged the positive impact of a photo shoot with Avesh on his performance.
"It feels good, the photoshoot that I did with you (Avesh) has given me a big boost to produce a good performance here," Arshdeep quipped in a video shared by BCCI on X.
While Arshdeep claimed his maiden five-for in ODIs, Avesh fell just one wicket short of securing a five-wicket haul. Avesh emphasized his focus on controllable factors and expressed satisfaction with his performance.
"My job was to bowl wicket to wicket. It feels good. My mindset has been to focus on things that I can control. I want to give my 100 per cent in every match," Avesh remarked.
With the pitch offering favorable conditions for fast bowlers, Arshdeep and Avesh showcased their skills, collectively taking nine wickets – the highest by Indian pacers against South Africa in an ODI innings.
India, having taken a 1-0 lead in the series, are set to face South Africa in the second ODI in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
(With inputs from ANI)
