Daijiworld Media Network - Vadodara
Vadodara, Jan 16: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has voiced strong criticism of the Indian cricket team management after pacer Arshdeep Singh was left out of the playing XI for the first two ODIs against New Zealand in Vadodara and Rajkot.
Despite being part of the three-match series, 26-year-old Arshdeep has yet to feature in the games, a move that Ashwin said could negatively impact the bowler’s confidence. Arshdeep, India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, has claimed 22 wickets in 14 ODIs so far. Yet the management opted for Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna as the frontline pacers for the opening matches.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin acknowledged the tactical reasoning but warned about the mental toll on Arshdeep. “The contest is between the bowlers… no one is thinking about Arshdeep Singh. This is not about how much he has played and how much he hasn’t played,” Ashwin said. He further emphasized that confidence is crucial for fast bowlers, adding, “He has done so much, yet he is still fighting for his spot. Whenever he plays next, he will be rusty.”
Ashwin called for Arshdeep to be made an automatic selection, citing his past performances. “Whenever you have given him the ball, he has performed. Allow him to walk into the playing XI with his head held high. He deserves this boss,” Ashwin remarked.
He also questioned the logic of playing Arshdeep only in the final ODI. “Now people are saying he will play the third ODI. What is the point? He didn’t play the first two… what will that do to his confidence?”
The three-match ODI series is currently level, with the decider set for Sunday, January 18, at Holkar Stadium in Indore.