BCCI Reveals Why Arshdeep Singh Isn't Included In Playing XI For 1st T20I Against Sri Lanka At Wankhede

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The 23-year-old left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, who has emerged as the best T20I bowler for India National Cricket Team in the last few months, was surprisingly left out of the playing XI for the first T20I against Sri Lanka National Cricket Team.

The first T20I of the three-match series between Hardik Pandya-led India National Cricket Team and Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka National Cricket Team is currently underway at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday, January 3.

While talking about the playing XI at the toss, India National Cricket Team captain Hardik Pandya revealed that the star opening batsman Shubman Gill and right-arm pacer Shivam Mavi will be making their T20I debut and mentioned that Arshdeep Singh was not included in the XI because he was not available.

“Anyone who comes here we will make sure we’ll give them the confidence. Two debutants today – Gill and Mavi. Arshdeep was not available.”

“Excited. Always been excited to play for the country, but obviously leading now makes it more special. Excited to see how this new bunch of guys express themselves. We were going to bat first. Yes, this is a chasing ground but we want to put ourselves in more difficult situations generally in bilaterals,” Hardik Pandya further said.

Arshdeep Singh has still not fully recovered from his illness – BCCI

Hardik Pandya didn’t mention why Arshdeep was unavailable for selection, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took to Twitter to provide further clarity on the matter.

The BCCI stated that the star left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh has “not fully recovered from his illness” and hence he was unavailable for selection for the first T20I.

“Note – Arshdeep Singh wasn’t available for selection for the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka since he has still not fully recovered from his illness,” the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) tweeted on Tuesday, January 3.

Note – Arshdeep Singh wasn’t available for selection for the 1st T20I against Sri Lanka since he has still not fully recovered from his illness.#INDvSL

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 3, 2023

Overall, Arshdeep has played 21 T20Is for India National Cricket Team and has bagged 33 wickets at an average of 18.12, an economy of 8.17, and a strike rate of 13.3, with the best bowling figures of 4/37.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka

India (Playing XI): Ishan Kishan(w), Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya(c), Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Shivam Mavi, Umran Malik, Yuzvendra Chahal

Also Read: IND vs SL: Jasprit Bumrah Added To India ODI Squad For Sri Lanka