Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has again taken a serious dig at the Indian team’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, for continuously benching Arshdeep Singh and keeping him out of the playing XI, despite him being the most successful pacer in the shortest format of the game.
Ahead of their next match against Pakistan, the Indian fielding coach Ryan Ten Doeschate has hinted at no change in the Indian playing XI from the match against the UAE. This implies that Arshdeep Singh might miss another game in the Asia Cup 2025.
Former Indian great slams Gautam Gambhir’s managerial skills
Speaking about Arshdeep Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin cited the example of other teams and how they always go with the best bowling options. He has also highlighted how teams lead their specialist bowlers to improve their batting skills, rather than just dropping them from the side.
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“I am not sure Shivam Dube is your third seamer. This is not about Shivam Dube. This is about having a quality bowler in your lineup. I agree that batting depth is important in T20s. Just look at the other teams, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer, they all can swing the bat,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
It has been unfortunate that India have been focusing on restoring their batting depth, leaving out specialist bowlers, which has led to the snub of cricketers like the pacer Arshdeep Singh.
“Actually, these teams have worked on the batting of those who are proper bowlers. But only in India do we think about those players who are batters but can bowl a bit. Actually, it should be the reverse.”
“Arshdeep Singh has shown that he can throw the bat. He has displayed his batting credentials. If someone has the talent, then you should work with them. It shouldn’t be the case of him sitting out and Dube playing because he is a batter and can bowl a bit. In T20 cricket, bowling a good four-over spell can result in you winning the competition,” he added.
Why can’t Arshdeep Singh be locked into the Indian Playing XI? – claims R Ashwin
Ashwin has long retired from the format and announced his international retirement in December 2024, stating that the left-handed pacer should be part of the XI as he is at the peak of his career currently.
“Arshdeep has to come in. In my view, if you can lock Shubman Gill as opener, Suryakumar Yadav at No.4 and Jasprit Bumrah at No.11, then why can’t someone who has been your best T20 bowler, be locked? These rules for batters and bowlers have always been an issue in my head,” said Ashwin.
“These decisions pertaining to bowlers are sometimes taken by batters. These batters have never bowled a ball in their entire life. Bowlers are doing that forever. It is hard for the batters to understand the mindset of the bowlers.”
“Think about the confidence in the bowlers. If you are consistently parking him out of the side because you want a No.8, then think what he would go through. He is in a purple patch and bowling well. He is not going to get these wonderful years back,” he added.
“Why are you writing his destiny, just because he can’t bat?”
Ashwin clearly said that the Indian youngster Arshdeep Singh should be angry for his repeated drops from the Indian playing XI, despite being India’s greatest pacer in the shortest format of the game.
“Why are you writing his destiny, just because he can’t bat. I want to say this to the bowling community. If we don’t have pride within our community, then no one would take us seriously. If we are made to sit out, then we should be angry,” said Ashwin
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