Why Arshdeep Singh Not Playing Today?
India left Arshdeep Singh out of the playing XI for today's first T20 match against Australia, picking Harshit Rana instead, a tactical selection based on batting depth and team balance as announced in the squad released hours before the match in Canberra on October 29, 2025. Aditya Soni, posting on X via @imAdsoni, expressed frustration, stating, "India's highest wicket taker in T20Is, Arshdeep Singh, isn't playing wow, man, unreal politics."
Arshdeep Singh not playing today is not related to injury or workload, but rather India's choice for more batting strength in place of its top T20 wicket-taker. Captain Suryakumar Yadav mentioned the “headache” of having many options in the toss interview; Arshdeep, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, and Nitish were all benched. Rajiv, posting on X via @Rajiv1841, criticized the Indian Cricket selection, pointing out that Arshdeep, despite taking the highest wickets at T20 WC 2024, is dropped due to blatant favouritism.
Official Reason from Team Management
There’s no injury update or rest protocol for Arshdeep Singh. Suryakumar Yadav stated at the toss, “Big headache, yeah. It's a good headache. It's not a bad headache. It's a good headache to have. But yeah, good to have so many options.
The guys who are missing out are Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep, and Nitish.” This wasn't a fitness or workload management move the selection was tactical. Gambhir and management opted for Harshit Rana as the second pacer, influenced by his utility with the bat at No. 9 in the earlier ODI and the absence of Hardik Pandya and Nitish Reddy due to injury. The exact reason is unclear.
When Will Arshdeep Singh Return?
No official timeline for Arshdeep Singh's return as of now. He’s not injured and not ruled out for the series; this was a selection decision. The upcoming T20Is are scheduled for November 1, 3, 7, and 10 likely, he’ll be considered again soon, depending on how India’s balance fares today. The management didn’t clarify when he’ll be back but his exclusion is not permanent.
Teams Squad
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (C), Travis Head, Josh Inglis (WK), Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Philippe, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Josh Hazlewood
Disclaimer
This article provides information about Arshdeep Singh’s selection status based on publicly available sources at the time of publication. Team decisions may change due to injuries, strategy, or last-minute updates. For the latest official team news, always refer to the verified cricket news outlets.
