Asia Cup: In Asia Cup 2025, the Indian team has started with a win by defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this match played at Dubai International Stadium on Thursday, the Suryakumar Yadav-led team made a great start to the current tournament by defeating UAE by nine wickets within just 27 balls. Now the team’s eyes are on the match against Pakistan on Sunday. Before this match, one question that is flashing in the mind of every Indian fan is the neglect of Arshdeep Singh. Everyone wants to know why the fast bowler is not getting a chance in the playing 11.
Why is Arshdeep not getting a place in the playing 11?
The reason for keeping Arshdeep out is not clear whether he is not able to be a part of the playing 11 due to some injury or the depth in batting is becoming a problem for him. A day before the match, Arshdeep focused more on fitness drills and batting practice instead of bowling at the nets. He did a fitness session for about an hour under the supervision of strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Ru and bowling coach Morne Morkel. However, sources associated with the team say that Arshdeep is a fitness freak and he recently performed brilliantly in the Bronco Test at the NCA. In such a situation, there is no need to speculate much.
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Last T20 match was played in January
Arshdeep played his last international T20 match 223 days ago i.e. on 31 January. After this, he returned to the field only in the quarter-finals of the Duleep Trophy playing for North Zone, but even there he did not look very effective. Arshdeep is currently one of India’s most successful T20 bowlers and has taken 99 wickets in 63 matches. Just one wicket can make him the fastest Indian bowler to complete 100 wickets in this format. Despite this, the team decided to play third spinner Varun Chakraborty in his place in the first match of the Asia Cup.
Coach Gambhir is a supporter of depth in batting
Coach Gautam Gambhir’s strategy has been clear for some time. He believes that the team should have depth of batting till number eight and also have three specialist spinners. This is why all-rounders like Akshar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are preferred, while the presence of Varun Chakraborty and Kuldeep Yadav strengthens the spin department. In the Champions Trophy final also, India defeated New Zealand with four spinners. In such a situation, fast bowlers like Arshdeep may have to sit out of the team due to spinners getting priority on slow pitches. Arshdeep’s path has also become difficult due to the return of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya giving bowling options as an all-rounder. It will be interesting to see whether he will get a chance in the important match against Pakistan or not.
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