Recently retired India spinner R Ashwin has urged Gautam Gambhir and the Indian team management to give pacer Arshdeep Singh the chances he deserves in T20Is. He clarified that it wasn’t even about Harshit Rana — the all-rounder who has replaced Arshdeep in the ongoing rubber in Australia — but only about how the Punjab Kings pacer was the best after Jasprit Bumrah in the team and is losing rhythm on the bench.
Ashwin’s remarks came hot on the heels of India’s big loss to Australia in the second T20I. The visitors were bowled out for just 125, and even though the bowlers put up a fight, taking six wickets, the hosts chased the total down in under 14 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the series (first match was washed off).
Rana was sent in at number seven, ahead of the much more experienced Shivam Dube, when India were going through a collapse, and scored a steady but ultimately low-impact 35 (33). He opened the attack with the new ball and went wicketless in two overs, conceding 27 runs.
“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.”
