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Fans Slam India's Surprise Omission of Ace Pacer Arshdeep Singh for Asia Cup 2025 Opener
10 Sep
Summary
- Arshdeep Singh, India's leading T20I wicket-taker, excluded from playing XI
- India opted for batting depth over Arshdeep's bowling prowess
- Fans expressed outrage over the decision on social media
On September 10, 2025, the Indian cricket team faced a surprising exclusion in their Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE in Dubai. Arshdeep Singh, India's all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 99 scalps, was left out of the playing XI despite his impressive form and crucial role in the team's 2024 T20 World Cup victory.
The 26-year-old left-arm pacer has been in exceptional form since the start of 2024, taking 40 wickets in 21 matches at an average under 15. He was the tournament's leading wicket-taker at the 2024 T20 World Cup, playing a vital part in India's triumph. However, the team management opted to go with only three specialist bowlers - Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah - to bolster their batting depth.
Fans on social media were quick to express their outrage over Arshdeep's exclusion, with many questioning the decision to leave out the team's premier T20I bowler. One fan commented, "Arshdeep Singh gave his best every time he played...But when it came to big matches, he was dropped." Another fan said, "Arshdeep singh is the season T20 player, why Bumrah that too against UAE? What a waste!"
Despite the absence of their leading wicket-taker, India will look to continue their dominant T20I run, having won 25 of their last 28 matches in the format, including an unbeaten campaign at the 2024 T20 World Cup. They are also the defending Asia Cup champions, having won the 50-over edition in 2023.
