Gautam Gambhir Faces Backlash After Arshdeep Singh's Quick Success
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir finds himself under fire once again. This time, the criticism follows Arshdeep Singh's immediate impact in the third ODI against New Zealand. Gambhir's decision to bench Arshdeep for the first two matches has sparked outrage among cricket fans and former players alike.
The Controversial Selection Call
Gautam Gambhir has consistently faced scrutiny for his team selections throughout his coaching tenure. The omission of Arshdeep Singh from India's playing eleven in the initial ODIs against New Zealand particularly puzzled many observers. Former cricketers including Irfan Pathan and Ravichandran Ashwin expressed their confusion about this decision. Regular fans joined them in questioning Gambhir's judgment.
With Jasprit Bumrah absent from the squad, Gambhir opted for Karnataka fast bowler Prasidh Krishna instead of Arshdeep Singh for the matches in Vadodara and Rajkot. This choice surprised many given Arshdeep's established reputation as one of India's premier left-arm pace bowlers in limited-overs cricket.
Arshdeep's Instant Impact in Indore
The third and final ODI at Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore told a different story. Arshdeep Singh returned to the playing eleven and made his presence felt immediately. The left-arm seamer struck in his very first over, dismissing New Zealand batsman Henry Nicholls with a well-pitched delivery that moved away slightly off the seam.
Nicholls appeared uncertain about how to handle the ball. He played it late and managed only an inside edge that crashed into his stumps. This early breakthrough demonstrated exactly why so many had questioned Arshdeep's exclusion from the previous matches.
Social Media Erupts in Criticism
Social media platforms exploded with reactions following Arshdeep's quick success. Fans wasted no time in directing their frustration toward Gambhir's selection decisions. One user expressed their disbelief strongly, writing about what they called "the stupidity of Gautam Gambhir" in benching India's best white-ball pacer for the first two games.
Another commenter went further, labeling Gambhir as "dumb" for choosing Prasidh Krishna over Arshdeep Singh. They argued that while Arshdeep delivers strong performances consistently, Krishna often proves expensive for the opposition. The Lucknow Super Giants franchise, which employs Arshdeep in the IPL, simply posted "Back in the XI. First-over wicket" on their social media account, letting the achievement speak for itself.
Arshdeep's ODI Journey
Arshdeep Singh's international career presents an interesting contrast between formats. The talented bowler has established himself as a regular in India's T20I setup, claiming over 100 wickets in that format across 72 appearances. However, his ODI opportunities have been limited, with just 14 matches before this Indore game against New Zealand.
This disparity between his T20I involvement and ODI appearances has fueled much of the current debate. Many believe Arshdeep deserves more consistent opportunities in the 50-over format, especially given his proven ability to take early wickets and contain runs during powerplay overs.
The criticism directed at Gambhir reflects broader concerns about team selection philosophy. Fans and experts alike question whether India is maximizing its bowling resources effectively. As the team prepares for future challenges, these selection debates will likely continue to generate discussion within India's passionate cricket community.
