Is Arshdeep Singh playing in today’s AUS vs IND 2025 3rd T20I?
Team India seamer Arshdeep Singh’s exclusion from the playing XI of the first two T20Is against Australia sparked massive scrutiny from fans and experts alike. However, the left-arm pacer has been included in the XI for the third T20I at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart, as the Men in Blue aim to level the five-match series. Arshdeep replaces Harshit Rana in the playing XI.
Despite being India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, the 26-year-old was overlooked in the first two games, with India preferring Harshit Rana and Jasprit Bumrah as their two frontline seamers. The Madhya Pradesh-born cricketer was also instrumental in India’s T20 World Cup victory last year. With 17 wickets in eight innings at an average of 12.64, he was the second-highest wicket-taker of the tournament.
In the preceding ODI series against Australia, Arshdeep continued his form by taking three wickets in two games, showcasing his consistency across formats.
Renowned India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed his surprise over Arshdeep’s omission in the playing XI. Speaking in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel ‘Ashwin,’ he said:
“Arshdeep Singh’s name should be the second name on your fast bowlers’ list if Bumrah is playing. If Bumrah is not playing, Arshdeep becomes your first bowler on that team list. I just cannot understand how Arshdeep Singh keeps missing out on the XI in this side. I don’t really get it.
“Of course, Harshit Rana had a decent day with the bat. He batted decently, but this is not about him at all. It’s about Arshdeep Singh. The performance he put in the T20 World Cup in 2024 was impressive, but since then, he has consistently found ways to stay out of the team.
“He has been benched so many times that he has lost a bit of rhythm. He deserves to be there, and it’s not about somebody else. He has a place in the team. Please play him,” Ashwin added.
This match marks India’s first T20I at the Bellerive Oval. Australia won their last T20I at this venue, defeating Pakistan by seven wickets. The hosts had also successfully chased down 126 in the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to beat India and take a 1-0 lead in the series. The first match of the series was abandoned due to rain.
As India looks to bounce back in Hobart, the inclusion of Arshdeep Singh could prove crucial in their quest to level the series against a strong Australian side.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-is-arshdeep-singh-playing-today-s-aus-vs-ind-2025-3rd-t20i
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