India’s unexpected decision to omit Arshdeep Singh from the starting lineup for the first T20I against Australia in Canberra has certainly caused a stir. Despite overcast conditions that seemed perfect for swing bowling, the left-arm pacer, who holds the record as India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, was surprisingly left out.
India’s Arshdeep Singh (AP Photo/James Elsby)
Instead, India opted for Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana as their primary fast bowlers, backed by three spinners: Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav. This move baffled many fans and cricket veterans, who struggled to understand the logic behind sidelining such a proven performer.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan publicly expressed his disbelief with a concise yet impactful post, simply stating: “Arshdeep Singh…”. Meanwhile, domestic cricket veteran Priyank Panchal was more direct, emphasizing that very few teams would bench their most successful wicket-taker in a format just months before a major World Cup. He powerfully declared, “Arshdeep deserves better treatment.”
Irfan Pathan post
Priyank Panchal post
This exclusion continues a frustrating pattern for the 25-year-old, who has frequently been rotated out of the squad despite consistently strong performances. During the recent Asia Cup, he was only featured in matches that were considered ‘dead rubbers,’ played when senior bowlers were given a rest.
Fans unhappy over Arshdeep Singh’s non-selection
Fans unhappy over Arshdeep Singh’s non-selection
At the coin toss, Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh chose to field first, while India’s skipper Suryakumar Yadav expressed his contentment with batting, anticipating that the pitch might become slower later in the game. “Bench strength is a headache but a good one to have,” Surya commented, alluding to India’s selection dilemmas due to an abundance of talent.
Ultimately, rain had the final say in Canberra. India began their innings well, with Abhishek Sharma setting a positive tone before his early dismissal. After a brief interruption, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav took control, forging a rapid 62-run partnership off just 35 balls. India was cruising at 97 for 1 after 9.4 overs when the rain returned, ending the game prematurely. The first T20I was eventually called off, frustrating both teams.
Nonetheless, for many ardent fans, Arshdeep’s continued absence was a bitter pill to swallow. With the T20 World Cup merely four months away, this decision has ignited a significant debate about India’s selection policies and their strategy for managing their crucial bowling resources.