Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has openly criticized the national team’s management for their decision to exclude fast bowler Arshdeep Singh from the playing eleven in the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday.
India faced a challenging match, being bowled out for a mere 125 runs in 18.4 overs, largely due to Josh Hazlewood’s impressive three-wicket haul. Australia comfortably chased down the target, securing a four-wicket victory with 13.2 overs to spare.
(Embedded video: Abhishek Sharma’s press conference discussing challenging Australian conditions and Harshit Rana’s performance.)
Speaking candidly on his YouTube channel post-match, Ashwin openly questioned the team’s selection choices. He asserted that if the intention was to experiment with the squad, then a player like Jasprit Bumrah, who faces workload management concerns, should have been rested instead of Arshdeep.
Ashwin stated, “If you want to experiment, then rest Bumrah. Bumrah is the one with workload management issues. You can rest Bumrah. See, Arshdeep Singh is your leading wicket-taker. When we will play the T20 World Cup, there will be some dew… But this Arshdeep debate is definitely something that’s very sad because Arshdeep Singh deserves his place.”
Ashwin further emphasized that Arshdeep should be a priority selection for India in T20 cricket. “My point is, Arshdeep Singh’s name should be the second name on your fast bowlers’ list when Bumrah is playing. And if Bumrah isn’t playing, then Arshdeep becomes your first-choice bowler on that team list. I just cannot understand how Arshdeep Singh keeps missing out from the XI in this side. I really don’t get it,” he passionately added.
While acknowledging that Harshit Rana, who played in the match, performed ‘reasonably well,’ Ashwin reiterated that Arshdeep’s absence pointed to a larger problem of player rotation and missed opportunities. He remarked, “It’s not about Harshit. The way Arshdeep performed in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and yet since then, he has consistently found ways to stay out of the team. He’s been benched so many times when he should have been playing.”
Arshdeep, who boasts an impressive record as India’s leading T20I wicket-taker with 101 wickets from 65 matches, last played in the 2025 Asia Cup. Ashwin observed that Arshdeep appeared ‘rusty’ during that tournament, attributing it to a lack of consistent match practice.
“He actually lost a bit of rhythm… he looked rusty. And your champion bowler will start looking rusty if you don’t give him game time,” Ashwin concluded, making a strong plea for the bowler’s rightful place. “I genuinely hope he starts getting the chances he deserves, man. He deserves to be there. And it’s not about someone else, that’s his spot. Please, play him.”