'Arshdeep Singh deserves better treatment': Ex-India stars blast Gautam Gambhir for pacer's snub in 1st T20I vs AUS
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Not only Indian fans but also former cricketers have been left baffled by another snub for Arshdeep Singh from the Indian T20I side. The leading wicket-taker for India has been pushed to the back foot, as he has not been considered for a spot in the first-choice playing XI.
India are in Canberra playing the first T20I of the Australia tour. The Men in Blue are invincible in the shortest format of the game, ever since they were crowned the champions of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. India will also host the upcoming 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
Gautam Gambhir has again made some awkward changes to the India Playing XI, as he left out the seasoned Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh. They have faced another blow in the form of Nitish Kumar Reddy being ruled out of the first three games in the series.
Another brutal criticism loaded as Irfan Pathan takes a dig at Gautam Gambhir
Gautam Gambhir's obsession with batting depth across formats has not been appreciated by any former player until now. However, Gambhir has not budged away from his mindset, since he has achieved fine results with his changed XI.
Irfan Pathan had slammed Gambhir previously as well for the snub of Arshdeep Singh, since he was their finest pacer in the shortest format of the game. The left-arm pacer was the first Indian bowler to complete 100 wickets in T20Is.
After another snub for Arshdeep Singh, Pathan instigated some brutal trolling for Gambhir as he made a post mentioning Arshdeep Singh's name on his X handle.
Arshdeep singh…
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) October 29, 2025
"Arshdeep Singh deserves better treatment," said Priyank Panchal
Another former Indian cricketer, Priyank Panchal, has noted that no other cricket-playing nation has ever snubbed their highest-wicket taker over so many instances with a World Cup approaching within a period of four months.
"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," wrote Priyank Panchal, the former India cricketer.
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
However, Gautam Gambhir might be looking forward to playing with multiple spinners in the format, considering that Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy need some game time, as the World Cup will be played in the subcontinent.
Rinku Singh snubbed again after the Asia Cup 2025
Indian middle-order batter Rinku Singh was brought into the Indian team as a finisher, and he too had a commendable rise in the role. However, after some unconvincing domestic and IPL performances for Rinku, he has been kept out of the playing XI.
Despite Hardik Pandya's absence, India has not considered Rinku in the side and has instead stuck with Sanju Samson at no. 5 and Shivam Dube, the World Cup winner, at no. 6. He last played for India in the Asia Cup final; however, Harshit Rana's inclusion at no. 8 has forced the batter out of the XI.
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India National Cricket Team Australia National Cricket Team India vs Australia Australia vs India Arshdeep Singh Gautam Gambhir Priyank Panchal Irfan Pathan
