Overview
- At Manuka Oval in Canberra, India left out left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh for the first T20I after also omitting him from the final ODI.
- The XI featured Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana as the specialist quicks alongside three spinners, leaving Arshdeep on the bench.
- Arshdeep is reported as India’s leading T20I wicket-taker with 101 wickets in 65 matches, valued for his left-arm angle and yorker control in both the powerplay and death overs.
- Analysts argue frontloading Bumrah reduces his availability at the death, heightening risk by leaning on an inexperienced Rana and spin against late-innings hitters.
- Former players and fans criticised the call, with Irfan Pathan and Priyank Panchal questioning the selection logic, Aakash Chopra calling the move baffling, and unverified questions raised about coach Gautam Gambhir’s role.