A fierce debate has erupted around India’s team selection in the ongoing three-match ODI series against New Zealand, with spin great Ravichandran Ashwin openly criticising head coach Gautam Gambhir’s approach while throwing his weight firmly behind left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. With the series locked at 1-1 and the decider scheduled for January 18 in Indore, Arshdeep Singh remains on the sidelines, having not featured in a single match so far.

The decision has surprised many, especially considering Arshdeep’s consistency in white-ball cricket and the fact that he played all three ODIs against South Africa last month. Watching the Punjab seamer warm the bench throughout the Gujarat leg of the series clearly didn’t sit well with Ashwin.

Speaking candidly on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ashwin questioned the impact such decisions have on a bowler’s confidence, particularly one who has already proven his value at the international level. While acknowledging that the Indian team management may be planning with the 2027 ODI World Cup in mind, Ashwin warned against sacrificing the present—and a proven performer—in the process.

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“The contest is between bowlers. For South Africa, you need hit-the-deck bowlers. Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna need match experience, and that’s why they are being played. I can understand the thinking,” Ravichandran Ashwin said. “But who is going to get into Arshdeep Singh’s shoes and think? Who is going to do that?”

Ashwin stressed that the issue goes beyond the number of matches Arshdeep plays. Instead, it’s about the mental strain of repeatedly having to fight for a place despite delivering results whenever given an opportunity. Drawing from personal experience, Ashwin explained that this pattern disproportionately affects bowlers, who often lose rhythm and confidence when sidelined for extended periods.

“This is not about how much he is playing or not, but what goes on in his mind,” Ravichandran Ashwin added. “Someone who has done so much still has to fight for his place. And when he finally gets picked again, he’s rusty. Why does this always happen with bowlers? I’ve been through it, and I know how unfair it feels.”

Ashwin further argued that even if Arshdeep is drafted into the playing XI for the third ODI, the damage may already be done. “Even if he plays now, what does that fix? Why didn’t he play the first two matches? What does that do to a player’s confidence?” he asked, speaking from what he described as a cricketer’s perspective rather than an analyst’s chair.

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Arshdeep’s numbers only strengthen Ashwin’s argument. In 14 ODIs, the left-armer has picked up 22 wickets at an average of 24.90 with an economy rate of 5.29. His List A record is equally impressive, claiming 75 wickets in 44 matches at an average of 23.96. For many, those figures make it hard to justify his continued exclusion.

As India weigh short-term experimentation against long-term planning, Ashwin’s emotional defence of Arshdeep Singh has reignited an important conversation—about trust, communication, and the cost of sidelining proven match-winners in the pursuit of future goals.