Arshdeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 99 scalps to his name.
Jasprit Bumrah was the only specialist fast bowler that featured in India’s XI against the UAE as they left out Arshdeep Singh and went with two premier spinners (Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy) and three all-rounders (Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Axar Patel).
The Men in Blue may have won the match convincingly, but former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was not one bit pleased with the team management’s decision to keep Arshdeep out of the lineup.
Ahead of their second group-stage match against Pakistan, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted in a press conference that it is unlikely the team will tinker with the winning combination.
Arshdeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 99 scalps to his name. Hence, it is no surprise that Ashwin was left fuming after the left-arm quick was snubbed.
“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. 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,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.
“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.
Ashwin further stated that Arshdeep must feature in the starter XI as he is at the peak of his career, and it shouldn't be wasted just because he doesn't possess batting skills.
“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 remarked.
Ashwin said Arshdeep should be angry if he is consistently made to warm bench just because of the management's obsession with batting depth.
“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,” he concluded.