The Indian cricket team's decision-making came under intense scrutiny on Sunday, January 11, 2026, as the team management faced a torrent of criticism for leaving out pacer Arshdeep Singh from the playing eleven in the first ODI against New Zealand. The match, held at the BCA stadium in Vadodara, saw the Men in Blue opt for a pace attack of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana, a move labelled as 'blatant favouritism' by furious fans and experts online.
Gill's 'Combination' Explanation Fails to Placate Critics
At the toss, stand-in captain Shubman Gill, leading the side, explained the omission as part of a broader strategy. He stated the team was 'trying different kinds of combinations' to see what suits them best for different conditions, especially with an eye on the 2027 World Cup. However, this rationale did little to satisfy the cricket community, which pointed to Arshdeep's recent superior performances.
The backlash stemmed directly from the recent ODI series against South Africa. Statistics revealed a stark contrast: Arshdeep Singh was India's most economical bowler, taking five wickets in three games at an economy rate of 5.50. In comparison, Harshit Rana had an economy of 6.39, while Prasidh Krishna was the most expensive, leaking runs at 7.80 per over.
Social Media Erupts with Accusations of Bias
The exclusion of the left-arm seamer triggered a wave of angry reactions on social media platform X. Fans expressed bewilderment and anger at the perceived injustice.
One user slammed the decision, writing, "They dropped Arshdeep Singh who was the most economical bowler... but run-machine Prasidh Krishna is still in the Playing 11. This is blatant favouritism!!!" Another echoed the sentiment, questioning, "So you are telling me we are going with Prasidh Krishna instead of Arshdeep Singh. Isn't it obvious favouritism."
The criticism extended to the pattern of selection. A detailed post read, "From Harshit to Prasidh: The Ongoing Snub of Arshdeep Singh... Prasidh Krishna, who is an inconsistent performer and a run-leaking machine, is getting chances over Arshdeep. Sometimes Harshit plays in Arshdeep's place, sometimes Prasidh." The post questioned why the team management's 'nonsensical tactics' were not being held accountable.
Team Composition and the Road Ahead
In the absence of spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj led the pace attack. Alongside the three pacers, India fielded a trio of spinners: Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. The batting lineup featured stalwarts like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer, with KL Rahul as the wicketkeeper.
New Zealand, led by Mitchell Bracewell, chose to bowl first after winning the toss. Their playing XI included Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, and Kyle Jamieson.
The severe backlash puts immediate pressure on captain Shubman Gill and the think tank, comprising coach Rahul Dravid and others. With the 2027 World Cup on the horizon, experiments are expected, but the omission of a recently top-performing player like Arshdeep Singh, especially in favour of bowlers with inferior recent records, has been perceived as a questionable and unfair move by a large section of the cricket-watching public. The management's future selections will be closely watched for consistency and merit.
