T20I series sees India lose by 51 runs in New Chandigarh On December 14, India chose to chase and South Africa posted a formidable total, leading to a 51‑run defeat for India. Arshdeep Singh bowled four overs, conceding 54 runs without taking a wicket, a stark contrast to his earlier performance in the series[1][2]. The loss intensified scrutiny on India’s bowling combinations as the team prepares for the upcoming World Cup[1].

Earlier Cuttack performance highlighted Arshdeep’s early‑over impact Two days prior, in Cuttack, Singh dismissed Quinton de Kock in the opening over and Tristan Stubbs in the next, finishing with figures of 2/14 from two overs[1][2]. Those wickets set a high benchmark for his spell and reinforced his reputation as India’s primary new‑ball and death‑over bowler[1]. The contrast between the two matches underscores the volatility of his recent form[2].

Milestone achievement adds weight to his World Cup role Singh recorded his 100th T20I wicket in Abu Dhabi against Oman, becoming the first Indian to reach the mark in his 64th outing at age 26[1]. This milestone, achieved despite recent setbacks, cements his status as a key component of India’s pace attack heading into the tournament[2].

Strategic considerations involve spin pairing and dew factor Team management may avoid deploying both Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav together in dew‑prone conditions, a tactic likely to be reused at the World Cup[1]. Singh is expected to provide early breakthroughs and manage death‑over pressure, balancing the spin resources accordingly[1].

Resilience narrative linked to past trolling incident Both reports reference Singh’s growth after a 2022 Asia Cup trolling episode over a dropped catch, noting his mental toughness and ability to rebound from adversity[1][2]. This personal narrative is presented as a factor in his continued selection despite recent expensive overs[2].