![\"'Please,](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-125008176,imgsize-94938,width-400,resizemode-4\/arshdeep-singh.jpg\" "\\"Arshdeep")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFormer India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin<\/a> has strongly criticised the team management for leaving out Arshdeep Singh<\/a> from the playing XI in India\u2019s second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. <\/span>SUBSCRIBE NOW!<\/a>India endured a tough outing as they were bundled out for 125 in 18.4 overs, with Josh Hazlewood<\/a> taking three wickets. Australia chased down the target with ease, winning by four wickets in just 13.2 overs.<\/p>\n Abhishek Sharma press conference: On tough Australian conditions, Harshit Rana’s fight<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Speaking on his YouTube channel after the match, Ashwin questioned the selection call, saying that if the management wanted to experiment, it should have been Jasprit Bumrah \u2014 not Arshdeep \u2014 who was rested.\u201cIf you want to experiment, then rest Bumrah. Bumrah is the one with workload management issues. You can rest Bumrah,\u201d Ashwin said. \u201cSee, Arshdeep Singh is your leading wicket-taker. When we will play the T20 World Cup, there will be some dew\u2026 But this Arshdeep debate is definitely something that\u2019s very sad because Arshdeep Singh deserves his place.\u201d<\/p>\n Poll<\/p>\n Do you agree with Ashwin’s assessment that Arshdeep Singh deserves a spot in the starting XI?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Ashwin went on to underline that Arshdeep should be one of the first names on India\u2019s team sheet in the shortest format.\u201cMy point is, Arshdeep Singh\u2019s name should be the second name on your fast bowlers\u2019 list when Bumrah is playing. And if Bumrah isn\u2019t playing, then Arshdeep becomes your first-choice bowler on that team list. I just cannot understand how Arshdeep Singh keeps missing out from the XI in this side. I really don\u2019t get it,\u201d he added.The veteran spinner also acknowledged that Harshit Rana, who featured in the match, did \u201creasonably well,\u201d but stressed that Arshdeep\u2019s omission reflected a deeper issue of player rotation and opportunity.\u201cIt\u2019s not about Harshit. The way Arshdeep performed in the 2024 T20 World Cup, and yet since then, he has consistently found ways to stay out of the team. He\u2019s been benched so many times when he should have been playing,\u201d Ashwin said.Arshdeep, India\u2019s leading T20I wicket-taker with 101 wickets in 65 matches, last featured in the 2025 Asia Cup, where Ashwin felt he looked \u201crusty\u201d due to limited match time.\u201cHe actually lost a bit of rhythm\u2026 he looked rusty. And your champion bowler will start looking rusty if you don\u2019t give him game time,\u201d Ashwin noted. \u201cI genuinely hope he starts getting the chances he deserves, man. He deserves to be there. And it\u2019s not about someone else, that\u2019s his spot. Please, play him.\u201d<\/div>\n