Team India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh shared a cryptic post after the second T20 match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday, October 31. Notably, the Punjab-born cricketer has been left out of India’s playing eleven for the first two matches against Australia.
Invited to bat first, India was out for just 125 runs in 19 overs. Josh Hazlewood was the best bowler for Australia with three wickets. In reply, Mitchell Marsh scored 46 off 26 balls and Australia crossed the finish line in 13.2 overs to secure a comfortable four-wicket win.
Arshdeep Singh is not the first choice fast bowler in India’s playing eleven.
Arshdeep Singh has not been the first-choice fast bowler in India’s playing XI in recent months, including the 2025 Asia Cup, where the team prioritized additional spin options and greater batting depth.
Despite being the leading wicket-taker for India in T20Is, the left-arm fast bowler has played only five matches this year. He has taken six wickets at an average of 29.17 and an economy rate of 8.90, with his best performance being 2/17.
He was last seen in action during the ODI series against Australia, missing the first two matches before suffering from cramps in the second ODI in Adelaide. He did not get a place in the playing eleven in the final match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Arshdeep Singh’s cryptic post before the third T20 match has fueled speculations.
Arshdeep Singh has given further fuel to the ongoing discussion regarding his absence from the playing eleven. Sharing an Instagram post, he wrote, “The kind of seeds you sow, you will get the same results.”
The timing of the post raised eyebrows, with many interpreting it as a subtle expression of dissatisfaction with the current selection decisions made under head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Arshdeep Singh cooked up Gautam Gambhir from his Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/xyC0deVtL7
– Rohan (@rohann__45) 1 November 2025
Arshdeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 101 wickets in 65 matches. The third T20I between India and Australia will take place in Hobart on Sunday, November 2. Another defeat will end their chances of making a comeback and winning the five-match competition.
Arshdeep Singh’s exclusion from the Indian team raises serious questions.
Arshdeep’s omission from India’s lineup has raised serious questions. The 26-year-old was overlooked for Harshit Rana in both the matches. Rana, who has only a few T20Is to his name, was preferred over an experienced and proven performer, a decision that surprised fans and experts alike.
The criticism intensified after India lost by four wickets in the second T20 match in Melbourne. Gautam Gambhir has also shown a tendency to support Rana in previous ODI selections where senior fast bowlers like Mohammed Shami were sidelined.
With three games left in the series, it will be interesting to see whether Arshdeep will be recalled to the playing eleven or not. His recent social media posts have further fueled this debate, bringing more scrutiny on India’s selection strategy and handling of one of their most reliable T20 bowlers.
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