Why Did India Bench Arshdeep Singh in Asia Cup 2025 Opener?

When India faced the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their Asia Cup 2025 opener at the Dubai International Stadium, fans expected a routine win and India delivered just that. However, the talking point wasn’t India’s dominant victory. Instead, it was the surprising omission of Arshdeep Singh, India’s top T20I wicket-taker.

The team management chose to field only Jasprit Bumrah as the lone specialist pacer, with support from Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube as pace-bowling all-rounders, alongside a heavy spin attack. For many fans and experts, leaving out Arshdeep was both puzzling and unfair.

The Arshdeep Singh Question: What Went Wrong?

Since making his T20I debut in 2022 against England, Arshdeep Singh has evolved into one of the most reliable left-arm pacers in world cricket. Known for his calmness under pressure and lethal death bowling, Arshdeep has troubled top batters across formats.

• Matches: 63
• Wickets: 99
• Strike Rate: 13.2
• Best known for: Consistent yorkers, slower variations & death bowling expertise

Yet, despite his impact, Arshdeep often finds himself overlooked by the management. He missed out during the Champions Trophy despite India’s success, and his Test debut against England was delayed due to injury. His last outing came earlier this year against England, and since then, he has been on the fringes.

Why Arshdeep Singh Deserves His Place

Arshdeep Singh brings something India’s other bowlers even Bumrah cannot always provide: consistent death bowling under pressure.

• Arshdeep Singh T20I Stats: 99 wickets, SR 13.2, Economy 8.29
• Jasprit Bumrah T20I Stats: 90 wickets, SR 16.9, Economy 6.27

While Bumrah has the superior economy, Arshdeep outperforms him in strike rate and wicket-taking ability. He was one of the standout bowlers in the T20 World Cup 2024, helping India lift the trophy against South Africa.

Former India stars have also raised questions:

• R Ashwin: Said India didn’t need extra batting against UAE and could have easily slotted Arshdeep.
• Aakash Chopra: Pointed out Arshdeep’s numbers are better than Bumrah’s in T20Is.

Why This Decision Could Backfire

Benching Arshdeep against a weaker side like UAE may seem harmless, but it raises a bigger concern. Workload management should have been applied to Bumrah, keeping him fresh for marquee clashes especially the India vs Pakistan blockbuster on September 14.

Arshdeep Singh is just one wicket away from becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 100 T20I wickets. Leaving him out at this stage feels unfair not just to him, but also to fans who consider him India’s future pace spearhead.

Building the Team Around Match-Winners

In T20 cricket, where margins are thin, you don’t drop your match-winners you build your team around them. India’s spin-heavy attack might work against teams like UAE, but against stronger batting lineups, the team will need a trusted death-bowling partner for Bumrah.

Arshdeep Singh fits that role perfectly, and India must ensure he remains a consistent feature in the XI if they want to defend their Asia Cup crown and prepare for future ICC tournaments.

India’s easy win against UAE may have hidden the cracks, but the Arshdeep Singh omission is a burning question that cannot be ignored. With 99 T20I wickets to his name, proven ability in death overs, and consistency against top sides, Arshdeep is too valuable to be benched.

If India is serious about defending their title and preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026, Arshdeep Singh must be in the playing XI.