In a team filled with young talent and fierce competition, finding the right balance is often the hardest part. For former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, one player clearly deserves more trust than he’s getting — left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. The recently retired cricketer expressed concern that India’s promising fast bowler is spending too much time on the sidelines, losing his edge instead of building on his momentum.
R Ashwin’s comments came after India’s disappointing four-wicket defeat to Australia in the second T20I in Melbourne. The visitors were bowled out for just 125 runs and though their bowlers managed to claim six wickets, Australia chased the target in less than 14 overs to take a 1–0 lead in the five-match series. The first game of the series was washed out due to rain.
Ashwin explained that his point wasn’t about criticising Harshit Rana, the all-rounder who replaced Arshdeep in the playing XI, but about ensuring that India doesn’t bench one of its most effective bowlers.
Harshit Rana had a modest outing, scoring 35 runs off 33 balls after being promoted to number seven and going wicketless in two expensive overs with the new ball. Still, Ashwin emphasised that Arshdeep, who was India’s standout performer in the 2024 T20 World Cup, deserves to be an automatic pick alongside Jasprit Bumrah.
According to Ashwin, Arshdeep’s absence from the lineup has led to a loss of rhythm. He noted that the Punjab pacer’s consistency and match-winning spells over the past year make him one of India’s top fast-bowling assets. Leaving him out repeatedly, Ashwin suggested, risks wasting his potential and confidence.
The trend of preferring all-rounders over specialist bowlers has become more visible under Gautam Gambhir’s coaching era. This strategy focused on batting depth has sometimes pushed bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav to the margins, even though both have been consistent match-winners in the shorter formats.
Ashwin also mentioned that Hardik Pandya’s injury has forced India to look for balance through other players, which has indirectly affected Arshdeep’s place in the side. Still, he believes the left-arm quick should be backed fully, reminding that even top bowlers can appear rusty when not given enough game time.
As India prepares for the third T20I in Hobart on Sunday, Ashwin’s words echo a broader sentiment that talent needs opportunity, not just recognition. For Arshdeep Singh, it’s a call for faith and a chance to remind everyone why he is among the best in the game.
