The veteran spinner called for the management to give Arshdeep Singh consistent chances after being benched repeatedly
Recently retired India spinner R Ashwin has urged Gautam Gambhir and the Indian team management to give pacer Arshdeep Singh the opportunities he deserves in T20Is. He clarified that his remarks were not about Harshit Rana — the all-rounder who replaced Arshdeep in the ongoing series in Australia — but about how the Punjab Kings pacer, who is the best after Jasprit Bumrah, is losing rhythm while sitting on the bench.
Ashwin’s comments came after India’s heavy defeat to Australia in the second T20I. The visitors were bowled out for just 125 runs, and though the bowlers managed to take six wickets, the hosts chased down the target in under 14 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series, with the first match washed out.
Rana was promoted to bat at number seven, ahead of the more experienced Shivam Dube, during India’s collapse. He scored a steady but low-impact 35 off 33 balls and later opened the bowling, conceding 27 runs in two wicketless overs.
“Arshdeep Singh’s name should be the second name on your fast bowlers’ list if Bumrah is playing,” Ashwin said on the Ash ki Baat show on his YouTube channel. “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 XI in this side. I don’t really get it. 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 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.”
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Ashwin Criticises Team Balance Choices
Ashwin’s remarks also reflect a growing debate over team selection under Gambhir’s coaching era, where batting depth has often been prioritised over specialist bowlers. This approach, which began in Tests, has now extended to ODIs and T20Is.
Rana, known for his all-round ability and power-hitting, has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of this shift, although it has drawn some criticism. Meanwhile, bowlers like Arshdeep — India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is — and spinner Kuldeep Yadav have been on the losing side of the selection strategy.
Arshdeep’s situation has also been affected by Hardik Pandya’s injury, forcing the team management to focus on boosting batting depth. However, Ashwin expressed concern about the left-arm pacer’s declining rhythm.
“We saw in the Asia Cup, he bowled well, he came back very well in the 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.
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