'Baffling selection': Gambhir, Suryakumar slammed by Cricket community for picking Rana over Arshdeep

Arshdeep Singh was benched in first T20I against Australia. (Photo: X)

India's top wicket-taker in Twenty20 Internationals, Arshdeep Singh, was left out of the starting lineup for the series opener against Australia at Canberra. Despite having an excellent record in the shortest format, the left-arm bowler, who participated in the first two ODIs earlier in the tour, was benched on Wednesday.

The visitors selected two front-line pacers: Harshit Rana was selected over Arshdeep as the second pick, and Jasprit Bumrah was the obvious option. India proceeded with their tried-and-true strategy of using three spinners—Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav—despite the overcast conditions.

Even though Arshdeep is the only bowler from India with more than 100 T20I wickets, he has recently not maintained a regular place in the starting lineup. He was sidelined for the majority of the Asia Cup, only making an appearance when Bumrah was rested, against Oman and Sri Lanka, two dead rubbers.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan revealed on his X account how shocked he was by Arshdeep's absence.

“Arshdeep singh…” Pathan wrote on X.

Arshdeep singh…

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 29, 2025

Despite Arshdeep Singh's impressive T20I record, seasoned domestic campaigner Priyank Panchal expressed his annoyance with his inconsistent selection. Prior to the T20 World Cup the following year, he expressed reservations about the team management's strategy and the lack of a defined plan.

“The number of countries that’d leave their highest wicket taker in a format out of the XI so consistently with a World Cup coming up in four months is very limited. Arshdeep deserves better treatment. #AUSvIND,” Panchal wrote on X.

The number of countries that’d leave their highest wicket taker in a format out of the XI so consistently with a World Cup coming up in four months is very limited. Arshdeep deserves better treatment. #AUSvIND — Priyank Panchal (@PKpanchal09) October 29, 2025

Shreevats Goswami described Harshit's inclusion over Arshdeep as "baffling." He also slammed Rinku Singh's exclusion from the starting lineup.

“Unless he hasn’t recovered I don’t see any reason to pick Harshit Rana before Arshdeep Singh. Baffling ! Also Rinku Singh not finding a place without doing anything wrong. Tough calls. #INDvsAUS #AUSvsIND,” he posted.

Unless he hasn’t recovered I don’t see any reason to pick Harshit Rana before Arshdeep Singh. Baffling ! Also Rinku Singh not finding a place without doing anything wrong. Tough calls. #INDvsAUS#AUSvsIND — Shreevats goswami (@shreevats1) October 29, 2025