Ind vs Aus 2nd T20I: Fans accuse Gautam Gambhir of favouritism after Arshdeep Singh’s omission

The Indian team management including head coach Gautam Gambhir, is under fire after Arshdeep Singh was once again left out of the playing XI for the second T20 International against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This marks the second straight match in the series where the left-arm pacer has been benched—a move fans and pundits are calling a major blunder and an instance of “blatant favouritism.”

Arshdeep, 25, is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 101 wickets to his name. Yet, he was replaced by young fast bowler Harshit Rana, a choice that many view as controversial. The team’s reasoning appears to be a focus on strengthening the batting lineup, as Rana was promoted up the order after an early collapse. However, critics argue that dropping a proven match-winner for tactical experimentation makes little sense.

Also Read: India Vs Australia: ‘Justice for Arshdeep Singh’ trends after getting benched in 1st T20I

Former players and fans expressed disbelief online, pointing out that Arshdeep’s left-arm pace and death-over accuracy are crucial—especially with the T20 World Cup approaching. One user wrote, “Harshit Rana is in XI again & India’s all-time highest wicket-taker Arshdeep Singh is warming the bench even on a pace-friendly MCG pitch! Never seen such blatant favouritism where players with proven records are ignored!”

The frustration stems from a pattern of exclusion. Despite being India’s joint-highest wicket-taker in the previous T20 World Cup, Arshdeep has been repeatedly rotated out since the Asia Cup. Many fans believe Gambhir’s decision-making is influenced by personal bias, given that Rana played under him at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Another user summed up the sentiment: “What’s Arshdeep Singh’s fault—being too good? If not for Gautam Gambhir, he’d have 120 wickets by now. Politics is ruining the game I love.”

The controversy has reignited debate over selection transparency and whether India’s team choices are truly based on merit.