AUS vs IND: Ravichandran Ashwin slams Gautam Gambhir over Arshdeep Singh’s exclusion from India’s T20I squad

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A storm is brewing within Indian cricket’s new era, as former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly voiced his frustration over the consistent omission of Arshdeep Singh from India’s recent T20I lineups.

Ever since Gautam Gambhir took over as head coach, the team’s selection strategy has come under scrutiny, and Ashwin’s strong words have only intensified the debate.

Arshdeep, India’s leading T20I wicket-taker and the first Indian to breach the 100-wicket mark in the format, finds himself sidelined despite being pivotal in the T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. His ability to swing the new ball and dominate at the death made him India’s go-to pacer during crucial stages, yet the new regime’s preference for batting depth has left him warming the bench. The 26-year-old’s absence from the playing XI against Australia, especially after an exceptional World Cup campaign, has sparked widespread disbelief.

Ashwin minced no words as he took on the current team management led by Gambhir, calling out their decision-making in recent T20I selections. On his YouTube channel, Ashwin asserted that Arshdeep’s name should automatically follow Jasprit Bumrah’s in any T20 squad discussion, emphasizing that the left-arm pacer’s exclusion makes little sense given his record. He noted that Arshdeep, with 101 wickets in 65 T20Is at an average of 18.76, has repeatedly delivered under pressure, both in the powerplay and at the death.

Yet, in the second T20I against Australia in Melbourne, India chose to go with a spin-heavy lineup, handing Harshit Rana a place. While Rana chipped in with a useful 35 runs, his expensive spell allowed Australia’s top order to seize control. He warned that keeping a proven match-winner on the sidelines risks damaging his rhythm and confidence, reminding that even champion bowlers can turn rusty without regular match exposure.

‘Arshdeep Singh’s name should be the second name on your fast bowlers’ list if Bumrah is playing. If Bumrah is not playing, Arshdeep becomes your first bowler on that team list. I just cannot understand how Arshdeep Singh keeps missing out on the XI in this side. I don’t really get it,” Ashwin said.

“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 was impressive, but since then, 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,” the 39-year-old added.

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Beyond individual criticism, Ashwin’s remarks hint at a deeper problem, a philosophical disconnect within India’s new think tank. Since taking charge, Gambhir’s focus has been on strengthening batting depth and introducing new faces, but that approach has come at the cost of ignoring an in-form specialist. Arshdeep’s prolonged absence, despite being India’s most consistent T20 bowler, has become symbolic of the uneasy balance between experimentation and performance-based selection.

His struggles for game time were already evident during the Asia Cup 2025, where he looked slightly rusty after a long bench spell, something Ashwin highlighted as a direct consequence of poor rotation. The veteran off-spinner stressed that keeping such a key performer out sends the wrong message to the dressing room, where players may begin to question the reward system for excellence.

“We saw in the Asia Cup, he bowled well, he came back very well in the spell, but he looked rusty. 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,” Ashwin concluded.

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