Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra was surprised with Arshdeep Singh’s inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming Asian Games. The quadrennial multi-sport event will be staged in Hangzhou, China, in September-October this year, with the latter stages of the event clashing with the initial games of the World Cup 2023 which will be played in India. Arshdeep is one of the four seamers picked in the 15-member Indian squad that will take part in the mega event.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “I am surprised Arshdeep Singh’s name is in this team. I am surprised because they are not considering him for ODIs at all. You didn’t consider him for the T20Is as well in the West Indies. Now you are not considering him for the Asia Cup and are already keeping him out of the World Cup list. What has happened? When I see Arshdeep Singh, it seems like there is a huge upside, he is a player for the long haul and can play all three formats, at least both white-ball formats, but they have not kept him currently.”
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However, Arshdeep Singh has gone wicketless and given away an average of 6.75 runs per over in the two innings he has bowled for India in ODI cricket. On the other hand, he has accounted for 41 dismissals in 26 T20Is as well. And, Aakash Chopra was also surprised by Mukesh Kumar’s inclusion in the Asian Games squad.
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“I am a little intrigued about Mukesh Kumar. He is part of all three formats for the West Indies tour. He is in the ODI team as well, so he might be in the race for the Asia Cup as well but you have removed him from the World Cup race,” he concluded. “Maybe you are thinking Bumrah, Shami and everyone will be fit there. Bumrah, Shami, Siraj – who will be the fourth one? That will be a question. Arshdeep or Mukesh Kumar could have been there but they are not there. So is Umran Malik that player who the Indian team is thinking about because you will need a fourth pacer?”
