'To be no.1 death bowler in a team which has Rabada...': KL Rahul's massive statement on Arshdeep Singh after 1st T20I

KL Rahul made a big remark on young left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh after the 23-year-old produced a stunning performance against South Africa in the 1st T20I.

Team India registered an emphatic 8-wicket victory over South Africa in the first T20I of the three-match series in Thiruvananthapuram. It was a stellar bowling performance from India as they restricted the Proteas to merely 106/8 in 20 overs, before chasing down the target in the 17th over of the game. While KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav scored unbeaten half-centuries, it was the duo of Arshdeep Singh and Deepak Chahar that wrecked havoc with the ball.

Arshdeep Singh with teammates in 1st T20I (PTI)

Arshdeep ended with figures of 3/32 in four overs, while Chahar conceded 24 runs for two wickets as the duo had reduced South Africa to 9/5 at one point. Following the game, vice-captain Rahul was all praise for Arshdeep.

“He's (Arshdeep) growing with each game and with each outing he gets better, he is somebody who has a big heart and I have seen him in close quarters while playing in the IPL,” Rahul said.

KL Rahul had captained Arshdeep during the former's stint with Punjab Kings in the IPL; the left-arm pacer remains a part of the franchise and produced consistent performances for the side, eventually earning him a maiden India call-up in June.

Arshdeep had been rested for the previous T20I series against Australia as part of the rotation process among bowlers; Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had played against Australia, made way for the left-arm pacer in the ongoing South Africa T20Is. The 23-year-old Arshdeep is also a part of India's 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup that begins on October 22 in Australia.

India will return to action on October 2 when the side takes on the South African team in the second T20I in Guwahati.