It is not often that a bowler in the form of his life, leading the wicket charts for his country, is not included in the playing XI. However, Arshdeep Singh was left out of the India side for their Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE on September 9. Though India thrashed the hosts, bowling them out for 57 and chasing down the target in just 27 balls, the response was still intense, with captain Suryakumar Yadav and the management being questioned by fans and fellow professional experts. What made it sting a little more was Arshdeep's impending milestone on the cusp of becoming the first Indian bowler to take 100 T20I wickets.

India's second match is against arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai; three times since the T20 World Cup 2024, some of the hitter batters of the Pakistan line-up have faltered against left-arm pace. It is apparent that since the T20 World Cup 2024, eight left-arm seamers have taken 30 wickets against this Pakistan batting line-up in 19 matches. Pakistan's scores versus left-arm seamers in these matches show their struggles - they have averaged 18.80 at a strike rate of 133.65 while left-arm seamers have only taken 4 innings or outings to take 7 wickets at an economic rate of 7.85. These statistics really depict how efficiently and effectively Arshdeep has exploited a well-known weakness of the Pakistan line-up and why there are many that exist in cricket circles who are sure he is a must-pick for the marquee game.

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Arshdeep Singh has become a regular in India's white-ball set-up over the last three years because of his ability to bowl at the death. He has shown to be able to bowl yorkers at will, and handle the pressure nothing can match that. He has the best economy rate of all Indian fast bowlers who have bowled five death overs or more. His impact stretches even unto the global stage. In T20 World Cups Arshdeep is India's second-highest wicket-taker with 27 wickets, only behind Ravichandran Ashwin with 32. His ability to pick up important wickets within precarious moments shows why he is one of India's best limited-overs players.

Arshdeep has been leading pacer since 2024 T20 World Cup

Arshdeep Singh is India's third-leading wicket-taker since the 2024 T20 World Cup behind spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi. He has taken 20 wickets in 11 matches at great average (15.15) and economy rate (7.87). No one had the impact Singh did at the start of the innings, 13 wickets in the powerplay phase which is far superior to anyone else. His dot ball total of 106 represents the most by any Indian pacer in this time period which also indicates he has control. As India prepares for Pakistan, Singh's ability to stifle hitters, in the initial phase and at the death, could be significant.

Another advantage for Arshdeep is the late night matches in Dubai. Previously the games started 30 minutes later because of the heat so the conditions and the period under lights should assist swing bowlers - Arshdeep is adept at swinging the ball both ways. Along with Jasprit Bumrah the two of them are a class right-arm and left arm combination. They have played ten matches and have picked up 38 wickets together (19 each), at economy rates of 7.34 and 4.32 respectively. Their partnership was critical in India success at the T20 World Cup 2024 in which both players provided consistent wickets for the team, and Bumrah was even awarded Player of the Tournament.

With that said, it is simply not justifiable to leave Arshdeep Singh off the playing XI. He is proven against Pakistan, he is consistent in world tournaments, in conjunction with Bumrah they have been and will be valuable to the Indian team, and he is better than Axar Patel, who currently is taking his place in the team, and the guy cannot bowl against Pakistan. In two matches he has claimed one wicket while defending, at an expensive ten point six six per expense rate. To bolster India's bowling attack for the major clash, team management should drop Axar and call Arshdeep back into the fold.