“The celebration was for my girlfriend”: Arshdeep Singh on gesture after Kyle Jamieson’s dismissal

Arshdeep Singh Explains Girlfriend-Inspired Celebration After Dismissing Kyle Jamieson

India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh gave his wicket-taking performance a personal touch during the first ODI against New Zealand, revealing that the playful dance he performed after dismissing Kyle Jamieson was a private celebration shared with his girlfriend.

Arshdeep explained the gesture during an innings-break interview in Auckland, where he also discussed the bowling conditions, India’s late-innings approach and the challenge of containing New Zealand’s lower order. The left-arm seamer finished with four wickets as the hosts were dismissed for 185, giving India a manageable target after a rain-affected start to the match.

A Personal Dance After Jamieson’s Dismissal

Arshdeep removed Jamieson in the 32nd over, claiming his third wicket of the innings and leaving New Zealand eight wickets down. The delivery was pitched on a hard length and angled towards middle stump. Jamieson moved forward and tried to drive, but the ball took the outside of his bat and flew towards extra cover, where the fielder completed a straightforward catch.

Jamieson made one run from six balls. As he walked back to the pavilion, Arshdeep marked the wicket with a light-hearted dance. Asked about its meaning, the bowler said it was a gesture he and his girlfriend use to lift each other’s spirits.

“That was for my girlfriend. It’s a little dance step that we do when we’re out walking or spending time together,” Arshdeep said. He added that the pair use it to cheer one another up when either is feeling low, making the celebration a small personal moment amid the intensity of international cricket.

The explanation offered a glimpse of the personality behind the fast bowler’s competitive on-field presence. Wicket celebrations are often improvised, but this one carried a meaning beyond the match—and quickly became one of the day’s most memorable moments for viewers.

Arshdeep Still Had One More Wicket in Mind

When asked which of his dismissals he enjoyed most, Arshdeep responded with a joke. He said his favourite would have been the fifth wicket, which he did not manage to claim. The comment reflected both his humour and his appetite for taking responsibility with the ball.

Arshdeep ultimately took four wickets for 70 runs. While the figures showed his impact, the innings also tested India’s discipline, particularly as New Zealand’s final pair added a useful burst of runs after the top and middle order had been put under pressure.

Eden Park Conditions Suited India’s Seamers

India captain Shubman Gill chose to bowl after rain delayed the toss by around 20 minutes and the start of play by a further 10. The visitors went with four specialist pace options, including Arshdeep and Gurnoor Brar, a selection that proved useful on a surface offering movement and bounce.

Arshdeep said he enjoyed bowling in Auckland after playing on generally flatter pitches in the subcontinent. He noted that the pitch provided assistance and that the wind also helped the seamers, creating opportunities to move the ball and challenge batters with bounce.

“After coming from the subcontinent, it’s always a pleasure to bowl when there’s some life in the wickets,” he said. Arshdeep explained that India’s plan was to hit the seam hard and make the most of the surface, while also varying their lengths to draw mistakes.

That approach helped India keep New Zealand’s scoring in check through much of the innings. The conditions also made accuracy important: bowlers could create pressure by repeatedly landing the ball in demanding areas rather than relying on pace alone.

Late Partnership Adds Runs as India Reflect on Their Approach

New Zealand’s innings was repeatedly disrupted by wickets, with Glenn Phillips among the batters unable to build a substantial total. Batting at No. 6, Phillips scored 30 from 51 deliveries before Arshdeep dismissed him in the 36th over, leaving the home side in further difficulty.

India appeared close to wrapping up the innings, but Blair Tickner gave the tail a late lift. The No. 11 struck 34 from just 23 balls, including four sixes, and combined with Jacob Duffy for a 39-run final-wicket stand. Brar eventually ended Tickner’s innings, with wicketkeeper KL Rahul completing the catch as New Zealand were bowled out for 185.

Reflecting on the partnership, Arshdeep acknowledged that India’s bowlers may have become too eager to finish the innings. Rather than sticking with the plans that had worked earlier, he felt they tried too hard to force a wicket.

“We were a little greedy and were trying too hard to get wickets,” he said. Arshdeep added that the bowlers could have trusted their approach and allowed pressure to create chances. His assessment was a reminder that, even when a side has the opposition on the ropes, patience and execution can matter as much as aggression.

India’s Chase: Conditions and Composure Could Be Key

With New Zealand’s total set at 185, Arshdeep described the score as competitive enough to require careful batting. His message to India’s top order was to judge the conditions, avoid unnecessary risks and build the chase steadily.

The target offered India a clear opportunity, but a lively surface can make even a modest total demanding if batters lose early wickets. A measured start, sensible shot selection and partnerships through the middle overs would therefore be important. The same conditions that helped India’s seamers could also reward New Zealand’s bowlers if they found movement with the new ball.

For Arshdeep, the first ODI combined a strong individual contribution with a candid review of the team’s execution. He claimed four wickets, enjoyed the assistance at Eden Park and admitted that India could have handled the final partnership better. And amid the tactical discussion, his celebration after dismissing Jamieson added a personal, good-humoured note to a match shaped by rain, seam movement and a spirited late fightback.