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Arshdeep Singh during Asia Cup 2025 (Source: Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Arshdeep Singh, India's leading wicket-taker in the shortest format, couldn't find a place in the playing XI for the first T20I against Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Wednesday, October 29. While this didn't sit well with a section of the Indian cricket fans, what irked them even more was that Harshit Rana was picked as Jasprit Bumrah's seam-bowling partner in the side.

India's head coach Gautam Gambhir has been at the receiving end of trolls and criticism in recent months as he has given many opportunities to Rana despite the Kolkata Knight Riders' bowler failing to make much of an impression. He did bag a four-for in the third ODI against Australia in Sydney, but fans questioned the logic behind him getting the nod ahead of Arshdeep in the first T20I. Arshdeep has been an integral part of India's T20 setup for quite some time. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup last year.

Even in the Asia Cup last month, Arshdeep bowled a brilliant Super Over against Sri Lanka and helped India maintain their winning streak in the competition. As the Asia Cup was played in the United Arab Emirates and Hardik Pandya was in the side, India opted to go in with only one specialist seamer in Jasprit Bumrah. In the inconsequential games against Oman and Sri Lanka, the Men in Blue gave opportunities to Arshdeep and Rana.

However, in Australia, Arshdeep was expected to share the new ball with Bumrah, especially with Hardik being sidelined due to an injury. When Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav announced at the toss that Arshdeep was among the players sitting out, the fans took to social media to vent out their frustration.