Based on his record, Arshdeep Singh should be the second-choice fast bowler after Jasprit Bumrah, according to former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who expressed surprise at the Indian team management’s decision to exclude him from the T20 XI against Australia.
Ashwin believes it is unacceptable to overlook a reliable performer like Arshdeep. Following India’s four-wicket defeat to Australia in the second Twenty20 International in Melbourne, he made these comments. Australia took a 1-0 lead in the series after chasing down the score in less than 14 overs after India was bowled out for just 125. The five-match Canberra series’ opening Twenty20 match was washed out.
“Arshdeep’s name should be the second name on your fast bowlers’ list if Bumrah is playing,” Ashwin said on his Ash ki Baat show on YouTube. “If Bumrah is not playing, Arshdeep becomes your first bowler on that team list. I just cannot understand how Arshdeep Singh keeps missing out from the eleven in this side. I don’t really get it.”
Although Ashwin acknowledges that Harshit Rana contributed somewhat with the bat, he stated that it is impossible to keep India’s all-time top wicket-taker in Twenty20 Internationals out of the picture on a field like the MCG. He believed that Harshit’s batting ability should not be mixed with Arshdeep’s non-selection.
“Of course, Harshit Rana had a decent day with the bat. He batted decently, but this is not about him at all. It’s about Arshdeep Singh. The performance he put in during the T20 World Cup in 2024, after that he has consistently found ways to stay out of the team. He has been benched so many times that he has lost a bit of rhythm,” Ashwin observed.
Harshit was sent in ahead of the experienced Shivam Dube at No. 7, where he made a steady 35 off 33 balls. However, his performance with the ball was underwhelming — the pacer went wicketless and conceded 27 runs in his two overs despite being deployed as the second seamer alongside Bumrah.
Arshdeep became one of India’s most dependable fast bowlers in T20 cricket during the Rohit Sharma–Rahul Dravid era. He is now the nation’s top wicket-taker in the format and the first Indian bowler to reach 100 T20I wickets.
“We saw in the Asia Cup, he (Arshdeep) bowled well, he came back very well in the second spell but he looked rusty,” Ashwin said. “Your champion bowler will look rusty if you don’t play him. So it’s a really tough situation if you are Arshdeep Singh, and I really hope he starts getting the place he deserves. He deserves to be there, and it’s not about somebody else. He has a place in the team. Please play him,” he added.
The series’ third Twenty20 International is scheduled for Sunday in Hobart.
