Dubai:Arshdeep Singh is a menace on social media these days. The 26-year-old is busy making vlogs, hyping his teammates’ performances, creating reels with them, giving fans glimpses of his personal life, and most importantly, taking care of his loved ones — his family. Arshdeep has been part of the Indian team across all three formats. In 2025, though, he has featured in only one ODI and three T20Is.
He was part of India’s Champions Trophy-winning squad, but Harshit Rana got the nod ahead of him in the playing XI. Later, Arshdeep was picked for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and was all set to make his debut at The Oval in the final Test of the series. But he missed out to Prasidh Krishna, chosen for his experience and extra bounce. Imagine the heartbreak for a player whose parents travelled from Mohali, and whose elder brother flew in from Brampton, Canada, with his wife and infant, only to see him denied his Test cap. With 99 wickets in 63 T20Is, Arshdeep is India’s leading wicket-taker in the format. He played a vital role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph and was named ICC Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year.
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Should Arshdeep Singh have been selected for the playing XI in the Asia Cup opener against UAE?
Yet, in India’s Asia Cup opener against hosts UAE, he did not play. There’s every chance he may again carry the drinks in the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan on Sunday. Somehow, Arshdeep always seems to miss the bus. Last month in Bengaluru, he played his first competitive game in three months — a Duleep Trophy clash after his IPL stint with Punjab Kings. After the Test cap snub at The Oval, the lanky pacer switched focus to the Asia Cup. “During the last Test at The Oval, I started training with a white ball. The workload was properly managed. I don’t know how many thousands of balls I sent down in practice. There was no shortage of bowling. At the end of the day, white or red ball, you just play and enjoy it. I got a chance to play in the Duleep Trophy and will next play with a white ball. The aim is to have a lot of overs under the belt,” Arshdeep told reporters while representing North Zone in the quarter-final. On Friday at India’s net session, he was the most vocal of the lot — cheering everyone from Rinku Singh to Shivam Dube to his Punjab teammates Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. Despite being one of India’s finest left-arm seamers in recent times, he is struggling for opportunities under Gautam Gambhir’s regime.
Arshdeep Singh warmed the bench in India’s first game of the Asia Cup, against UAE, and could well do the same against Pakistan on Sunday. (ANI Photo)
“Everyone knows there is no agenda,” India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said at the ICC Academy when asked about Arshdeep’s omission. “There is no personal liking or disliking. Whatever is best for the team, the captain and head coach will decide. And I don’t think there is any doubt in anybody’s mind. Whoever is not playing is always trying to help those who are, and I think that’s how the team should function.” In his brief career, Arshdeep has already faced too many swings of fortune. In 2022, he was brutally trolled after dropping Asif Ali in a tense Asia Cup chase against Pakistan. One user even modified his Wikipedia page to insert references to “Khalistan.” “His exact words were, ‘I am laughing at all these tweets and messages,’” his father Darshan Singh told TimesofIndia.com.
Everyone knows there is no agenda. There is no personal liking or disliking. Whatever is best for the team, the captain and head coach will decide
India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak on Arhsdeep’s omission
Being Arshdeep Singh in the current Indian set-up is not easy. He smiles constantly, but beneath it all, he has become a ticketless traveller, stuck in a lonely phase. Yet, he doesn’t need to look too far for inspiration. If he wishes, he can revisit his diary entries — a record of his cricketing journey, which he once described as his finest work. “Rakh rabb te yakeen naal mehnatan da zor hove. Apne aap nu kra challenge, mukabala na koi hor hove! Hovan saarean toh vakh, jitt hateran de dil lavan. Hon jinnia v aukdan, mukaam apne nu mil lavan!”(Have faith in the Almighty and work hard. Challenge yourself rather than competing with others. Be the best among the best and win over the hearts of haters. With dedication and effort, you will reach your destination, no matter how tough the circumstances are.)
