Why Has Arshdeep Singh Played Just ONE T20I Against Australia? India Bowling Coach Responds
Why Has Arshdeep Singh Played Just ONE T20I Against Australia? India Bowling Coach Responds
In what comes as a surprise, India’s leading T20 International (T20I) wicket-taker Arsheep Singh has played just one of the three matches against Australia in the ongoing series so far. On his return in Hobart, the pacer earned the Player of the Match award, as he walked away with 3/35 as India won the match by five wickets.
Given his ability to bat a bit, Harshit Rana was preferred over Arshdeep in the first two matches. But that changed at the Bellerive Oval, where India went in with Arshdeep to boost their bowling department.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 fast approaching, there will be plenty of experiments India will carry out and this is just one of them. India bowling coach Morne Morkel says that it is the team’s way of assessing who can handle pressure better as they look to zero in on the right combination ahead of the mega event, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
“It is not easy. There will always be disappointment in terms of players and selection, but that is something at times that, as a player, is uncontrollable,” Morkel said of Arshdeep, according to the Indian Express.
“For us, from our side, we just keep on asking them to work hard and try hard and be ready for when they do get the opportunity. There are limited games now leading into the T20 World Cup, so it is essential for us to see how the players can react in certain situations under pressure; otherwise, it will be unknown to us. So it is a bit of playing those sorts of games and then still having the mindset to win the game of cricket.”
Another experiment India have been doing in the series is juggling with the batting order. Morkel does not see that as a problem and believes players have to be flexible in a format like T20. “You need to have options available. I think every team, if you look across the world, is playing around with options,” Morkel said.
“Yes, we will probably know one or two combinations that we set, but I think in this game, you need to be adaptable. You need to know where certain players can give you options in different roles. And if you are not going to try those roles and see how they handle the pressure in those situations, you are never going to know.
“And I think with a World Cup around the corner, you do not want to leave any stones unturned. You do not want to sit two years down the line and say, if only we tried that, or give this combination a bit more time, it would have developed. So yes, I think it is about playing it smartly.”
India’s other worry thus far on the tour has been Nitish Kumar Reddy’s injury, with the all-rounder missing the first three T20Is. However, India’s assistant coach revealed that the all-rounder is doing all the right things to make international return.
“Yes, he did all his work that was needed or expected of him today, fielding, batting, bowling, and he ticked all of that. So we will find out now, after the assessment, where he is at.”
The five-match T20I series is currently level at 1-1. The fourth game will be played on November 6 (Thursday) at the Carrara Oval, Gold Coast.
