The exclusion of Arshdeep Singh from the playing XI in the first T20I between India and Australia has sparked disappointment. For the first T20I against Australia on Wednesday, India went with Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana as their specialist pacers, while Arshdeep was left to warm the bench. Despite being the only Indian pacer to cross 100 T20I wickets, Arshdeep often finds himself out of the XI. The explanation offered was that this was a tactical decision aimed at strengthening batting depth rather than resting Arshdeep or managing workload.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra was left frustrated by Arshdeep's exclusion in the first T20I. He felt that dropping Arshdeep Singh in favour of Harshit Rana doesn't make any sense.
"It's quite baffling that India's highest T20I wicket-taker can't find a place in the playing XI-even in Australia. Of course, it didn't happen in the UAE for the Asia Cup. What are the chances of him playing in the World Cup? That's the first thought that crosses the mind. The biggest takeaway is the philosophy with which this team has been playing for a while-that you need somebody who can bat at No. 8," Aakash Chopra said on ESPN Cricinfo.
"In this case, Harshit Rana was picked ahead of Arshdeep Singh not because of his bowling ability, but just because of his batting. You could possibly understand if there were a better, more capable batter playing at No. 8. But the sample size we have of Harshit Rana's batting ability is not big enough to actually suggest that he is a batter who can deliver regularly at No. 8. Harshit Rana doesn't fit the bill yet."
Meanwhile, the first T20I between India and Australia was washed out due to persistent rainfall in Canberra. Both sides will now meet on Friday in the second game at the MCG.