Arshdeep Singh Says Father Reacted Furiously to Every West Indies Boundary in Hotel Room

Following India’s mixed fortunes in the T20 World Cup Super 8s, the stage is set for a virtual quarterfinal between India and the West Indies to determine who progresses to the semifinals. India had lost to South Africa, making it crucial not only for the hosts to win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies but also for South Africa to defeat the Caribbean side to neutralise net run rate considerations. Half of that scenario was resolved on Thursday when South Africa beat the West Indies, and India secured a victory against Zimbabwe in Chennai.

During the West Indies–South Africa match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the Proteas held the upper hand but faced a temporary resurgence from the Windies, who recovered from 90/7 at one stage. India pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was with the team in Chennai, revealed that his father, Darshan Singh, was intensely following the contest and became animated whenever the West Indies hit boundaries. “Whenever a West Indies batter smashed a six, my father started shouting: ‘What on earth are you doing?’” Arshdeep said, describing the tense viewing experience at the team hotel.

Arshdeep added that his father hurled abuse at the screen during critical moments, forcing him to intervene. “I had to settle him down and tell him not to get so worked up. I told him to enjoy the cricket and keep praying for a South African win,” the pacer recounted. His comments highlighted the passion of cricket-supporting families in India, particularly during crucial World Cup stages where outcomes elsewhere influence a team’s progression.

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South Africa’s win against the West Indies secured their place as the first team from Group 1 of the Super 8s to qualify for the semi-finals, maintaining their undefeated record in the tournament so far. India’s earlier defeat to the Proteas had severely impacted the hosts’ net run rate, making it imperative that the West Indies did not register a win in their match. The South African victory effectively removed the net run rate debate from the equation, simplifying India’s semifinal hopes to a single match outcome against the Caribbean side.

India responded strongly against Zimbabwe, posting 256 runs and then restricting the visitors to 184/6, with Arshdeep Singh taking three key wickets. The 72-run victory kept India’s semifinal ambitions alive, setting up a high-stakes encounter against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where the winner will progress to the last four. The match promises to be a tense affair, with both teams aware that the outcome is decisive for their World Cup campaigns.

Arshdeep’s light-hearted anecdotes about his father’s reactions provide a human touch to the intense tournament proceedings, reflecting how cricket in India is deeply entwined with family and fan emotions. As the team prepares for Kolkata, players and fans alike will be hoping for composure on and off the field to secure a berth in the semifinals.

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