Arshdeep Singh on selection uncertainty: not in my control
Arshdeep Singh responded with characteristic humor when asked about his constant in-and-out selection status since Gautam Gambhir took over as India’s head coach, saying the situation has its own advantages. “Jaise main team se in and out hota hoon uska advantage bhi hai. Mera ball bhi in and out jaata hai (Being in and out of the team has its own set of advantages. Like I am in and out of the team, my ball is also coming in and going out). So I am enjoying that,” Arshdeep said with a smile .
Selection uncertainty under Gambhir’s tenure
Arshdeep, who has 111 wickets in 73 T20 Internationals and remains India’s most prolific wicket-taker in the shortest format, has often been sacrificed for team combination in recent months . This particular trend has drawn attention since Gambhir assumed charge in July 2024 . In 2025, Arshdeep featured in just 13 of the 21 T20Is played by India and was notably benched for a better part of the Asia Cup despite his impressive record .
Professional approach to the controllables
On a more serious note, the 26-year-old underlined his professional approach towards selection and readiness. “My job is to remain ready and whenever team wants me to bowl in any format with new or old ball, I can give my best. My aim is to enjoy the journey, remain in present and focus on the controllable. What is not in my control (selection), I shouldn’t be bothered about it,” he said .
Arshdeep spoke about adapting to different match conditions and the challenge of bowling on placid tracks. “When you find a good batting pitch, you have a prayer on your lips, ‘Please God save me today’. The plans are chalked out at the team meetings and on the game day, our job is to execute that plan. If you stick to your plans and execute them properly, more often than not, you get results,” he explained .
Flexibility is key to success
The left-arm pacer emphasized that strategy changes depending on conditions, opposition, and the total on the board. “Plans are made based on opposition, kind of total on the board, and we adapt accordingly. The key is to remain flexible, which is the main moto of the team. Whether you are called at the start, middle or finish, you need to remain ready,” Arshdeep said .
He added that knowing what works on a particular strip against a specific batter is crucial, and even if a strategy does not work, the team learns from it when there is a change of plan in the next match .
Abhishek Sharma avoids facing him in nets
On a lighter note, Arshdeep revealed that India’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma prefers not to bat against him in the nets, something the pacer is not complaining about at all. “He (Abhishek) would always say, ‘I do not want to bat against you guys’. It’s good for us that we don’t have to bowl to him. I have played a lot of cricket with him and watching him dominate at this level feels good,” Arshdeep concluded .