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Team India speedster Arshdeep Singh has found himself on the bench once again as he has not been named in the playing XI for the first T20I against Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29. The left-arm bowler was not in the first-choice playing XI in the 2025 Asia Cup as well, with the Men in Blue seeking extra spin and batting depth.
India's leading wicket-taker in the format, Arshdeep Singh, has only played on a sporadic basis since the five-match home series against England at the start of the year. In 2025, he has featured in only five matches, where he has picked six wickets at an average of 29.17 and an economy rate of 8.90.
He was recently seen in the three-match ODI series against Australia, in the first two matches. The pacer struggled with cramps during the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval and was sidelined for the third ODI in Sydney as a result.
Fans were far from pleased with the team management's ongoing trend of keeping Arshdeep Singh on the bench, despite the pace and bounce-friendly conditions in Australia suiting his style of bowling. Here are some of the reactions on social media.
So Arshdeep, India's 2nd best T2OI pacer doesn't play in Asia Cup because it was spin friendly conditions. And he doesn't find a place in Australia too where you get pace and bounce. Clowns of highest level. #INDvsAUS #AUSvIND
Harshit Rana over Arshdeep Singh in T20i, this is too much now. Gautam Gambhir can't damage any cricketers career to make another's. #INDvsAUS #arshdeepsingh
Harshit Rana again makes to the playing XI, if Arshdeep can't play in Australia thn good luck to him for sitting on the bench in T20 WC that will be played in India #INDvsAUS
Arshdeep getting benched just to fill that no 8 spot with somebody who can also bat id ridiculous. Imagine Harshit playing ahead of him in T20Is. Arshdeep, please improve ur batting or else its over for u
Absolutely No hate to Harshit Rana,I like the bloke but how on earth can you play anyone else apart from Bumrah before Arshdeep Singh ? Baffling #AUSvIND #Ausvindt20 #HarshitRana #arshdeepsingh #bcci
Absolutely shocking to see Arshdeep being drop who’s the highest wicket taker in T20. What’s hell is GG &AA doing? Disgraceful
Arshdeep Singh has picked 10 wickets in six T20I matches on Australian soil
The left-arm pacer was among India's first-choice bowlers during Jasprit Bumrah's absence for the 2022 T20 World Cup, which was played in Australia. He ended up being one of the major takeaways for the team from the campaign after picking 10 wickets in six matches at an average of 15.60 and an economy of 7.80.
While he has gone from strength to strength since then, the team management seemingly does not have him in their plans at the moment from a combination perspective.
Team India have been put into bat first by Mitchell Marsh in the series opener. At the time of writing, openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill are ready to face the first over.
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Edited by Gokul Nair
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