'I hope that unexpected hero comes from the bench' - Ravichandran Ashwin questions Gambhir over star player's exclusion in Asia Cup 2025
Ravichandran Ashwin has raised concerns over Arshdeep Singh’s omission from India’s Asia Cup XI, urging team management not to sideline specialist bowlers for batting depth.
Ravichandran Ashwin (pic credit: Chennai Super Kings)
Last Updated: 10.15 PM, Sep 13, 2025
Ravichandran Ashwin has stirred a fresh debate in Indian cricket after speaking out strongly against the exclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh from India’s starting XI in the Asia Cup 2025 opener. The veteran spinner suggested that the decision reflects a flawed selection mindset that undermines specialist bowlers in favor of batting depth.
India played with just one specialist pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, in the opening game against the UAE. The other bowling roles went to all-rounders, leaving Arshdeep on the bench despite his consistent record as one of India’s most effective T20 bowlers over the past two years. For Ashwin, the reasoning behind this choice, that Arshdeep’s batting is limited, was deeply concerning.
Ashwin argued that such decisions can be damaging to a player’s morale. "I dont think there are many options of someone who can surprise from India. All of them have performed well and the team is amazing top to bottom. Unexpected hero can be Tilak Varma. Because he has not got an opportunity to bat and no one knows when it will come. But I hope that unexpected hero comes from the bench, that is Arshdeep Singh. Because everyone thinks he might not play," he said on 'Ash ki Baat'.
According to him, repeatedly sidelining a bowler for reasons unrelated to their core skill creates unnecessary pressure and signals that batting ability outweighs bowling quality. The off-spinner also drew parallels with how other top cricketing nations operate.
Fast bowlers like Mitchell Starc or Kagiso Rabada are rarely judged on their runs; their role is to win matches with the ball. Ashwin fears India’s obsession with batting depth could “pre-write” the destiny of young bowlers, forcing them to constantly fight for a place they should already own through performance.
What makes the issue more sensitive is that coach Gautam Gambhir has been closely linked to the team’s tactical approach. Ashwin’s remarks are seen as a direct critique of Gambhir’s philosophy of strengthening the batting order even at the cost of leaving out wicket-taking bowlers. For Arshdeep, who has delivered under pressure in crunch T20 internationals, this exclusion could feel like a step backward just when his career was gaining momentum.