Former India cricketer Varun Aaron wasn't in agreement with the team management's decision of excluding Arshdeep Singh from the playing XI for the second T20I of the five-match T20I series against Australia. Instead of picking Arshdeep in the XI, the Men in Blue opted to go for a pace combination of Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana. While Bumrah did pick up two wickets during the match, Harshit proved to be rather expensive and gave away 27 runs in just two overs.
Aaron explains why India need Arshdeep
Following India's 4-wicket defeat in the match, Aaron remarked that the side needed a bowler like Arshdeep on the field as he would have been able to utilise the conditions well and could have gotten early breakthroughs to put immense pressure on Australia. He even claimed that Arshdeep is India's second-best death bowler after Bumrah and thus, deserves to be in the playing XI.
“You've got to take wickets to win games. Today was a night where India needed wickets. If Arshdeep was playing, he would’ve bowled much fuller than the other bowlers in the Indian team. Not Bumrah, obviously, he’s an anomaly. He can do anything on any wicket. But Arshdeep is one of those bowlers who can really utilize conditions, especially with the new ball,” Aaron said on Star Sports.
“He deserves a place in the side without a doubt, because he can swing the ball up front, and I think after Bumrah he's India's best death bowler. So I think it might just be a case where the Indian team wants to test Harshit Rana early in the series and give him a few games and test out their bench strength as well. That's the only logic I see. But otherwise, Arshdeep has to be a starter in the team,” he added.
Arshdeep's record in T20Is
Despite being India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 101 wickets under his name so far, Arshdeep hasn't made much appearances in the format for the past few months. Even in the Asia Cup, he was only given chances in two matches and has now been benched in the first two T20Is against Australia. It remains to be seen if he is given a chance in the third match.
Meanwhile, after falling behind by 1-0 in the series, India will be looking to bounce back in the third T20I that will be held at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on November 2.