"Does Gautam Gambhir Have a Problem With Arshdeep Singh?" India Coach Faces Fan Backlash Over Pacer's Omission The omission of Arshdeep Singh from India's playing XI for the rain-affected first T20I against Australia at Manuka Oval in Canberra has sparked intense debate and triggered a social media storm, with fans questioning head coach Gautam Gambhir's selection philosophy. For the second consecutive match—following his benching in the third ODI against Australia—India's leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket was left warming the bench, this time in favor of Harshit Rana.

A Pattern of Exclusion

Arshdeep Singh, who has taken more T20I wickets for India than any other bowler and played a pivotal role in the country's T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, has been repeatedly overlooked under Gambhir's tenure as head coach. The 25-year-old left-arm pacer, known for his precision with the new ball and his ability to execute yorkers at the death, was also benched during the Asia Cup 2025 group stages and the recent England tour.

The decision to play Harshit Rana—who is relatively inexperienced in T20Is—ahead of Arshdeep has left many scratching their heads, especially given Canberra's overcast conditions that seemed tailor-made for swing bowling.

Social Media Erupts

Within minutes of the playing XI announcement, X (formerly Twitter) erupted with criticism directed at Gambhir and the team management. The hashtag #JusticeForArshdeep began trending, with fans demanding an explanation for the continued snub.

"Arshdeep Singh should be in the XI in every match; he has won us a World Cup," one user wrote, highlighting the pacer's crucial contributions during India's T20 World Cup 2024 campaign.

Another fan questioned: "Does Gautam Gambhir have a problem with Arshdeep Singh, the country's leading wicket-taker who is still not getting consistent opportunities?"

Several users pointed to what they perceive as favoritism toward Harshit Rana, a player Gambhir coached extensively at Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. "Dropped from T20Is vs England, benched in Champions Trophy, and now again against Australia—Harshit Rana seems to be the preferred choice every time," one post read.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Arshdeep Singh's T20I record is nothing short of exceptional. He has taken 97 wickets in 65 T20Is at an economy rate of 8.25, making him India's all-time leading wicket-taker in the format. His ability to swing the new ball and bowl accurate yorkers in the death overs has made him indispensable in India's white-ball setup—or so it seemed.

In contrast, Harshit Rana has played just eight ODIs and is still finding his feet in international cricket. While he showed promise with a four-wicket haul in the Sydney ODI, his limited T20I experience (only two matches) raises questions about why he's being preferred over a proven match-winner like Arshdeep.

Gambhir's History With Arshdeep

Interestingly, Gambhir has been critical of Arshdeep in the past. During a 2023 T20I series against New Zealand, when Gambhir was working as a commentator for Star Sports, he offered a scathing assessment of the young pacer after a poor performance.

"Unfortunately, he doesn't have the speed to actually rattle batters. So he's got to develop some variation. He is not Umran Malik, he's not Mohammed Siraj. So one thing he needs to do is probably try and keep it very simple and sort his no-balls out, which is equally important," Gambhir said at the time.

He added: "These numbers are fine—it can go south and it can go north. But the most important thing is you can't afford to bowl those no-balls. That is absolutely unacceptable, especially at this level, and it can come back to hurt you and the team big time."

While Arshdeep has since worked on his game and eliminated many of those early-career issues, some fans believe Gambhir's past comments hint at a deeper skepticism about the bowler's abilities.

Match Washed Out

As for the match itself, rain had the final say in Canberra. India started brightly after being put in to bat, with captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill putting on a fluent 62-run partnership off just 35 balls. Suryakumar looked in sublime touch, smashing an unbeaten 39 off 24 balls, while Gill remained unbeaten on 37 off 20.

Just as India appeared set for a big total at 97/1 after 9.4 overs, persistent rain forced play to be abandoned, leaving fans frustrated on multiple fronts—both the weather and the team selection.

What's Next? With four more T20Is to go in the series, all eyes will be on whether Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav bring Arshdeep back into the fold. The second T20I is scheduled for Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and given the absence of Jasprit Bumrah for the remaining matches, Arshdeep's case for inclusion becomes even stronger.

For now, though, the questions linger: Is there a tactical reason behind Arshdeep's exclusion, or is there something unspoken within the team dynamics? And will India's most successful T20I bowler get the opportunities his record deserves?