The shortlisting of the two to go with Arshdeep Singh has sparked a flurry of conversations. Due to their bowling qualities, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting argued that he would choose Arshdeep above Harshit.
Following Jasprit Bumrah’s exclusion from the current Champions Trophy, there has been a lot of talk among Indian cricket fans. The front-line pacers selected were Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, in addition to the returning Mohammed Shami.
“To replace Bumrah, I would select Arshdeep and the left-armer. We are aware of his exceptional performance in Twenty20 cricket, and based on his skill set, he likely offers a comparable skill set to Bumrah’s in death overs and new ball situations, which is what India would miss. Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting said, “I think Harshit Rana has a lot of talent and we know what he can do with the new ball, so that’s not taking anything away from him.”
Ponting on Arshdeep Singh: “If I were India, I would personally lean that way.”
Ponting went into more detail about the main justification for choosing Arshdeep over Harshit.
“In my opinion, Arshdeep Singh’s death talents are superior to his own. Additionally, there is the left-arm variety, which is the ability to move the fresh ball when bowling left-arm. We are aware of their significance and how vital they may be, particularly in major competitions when there are many right-handers at the top. If I were India, I would personally tilt that way,” he continued.
In the just finished ODI series against England, Harshit made his ODI debut. Even though he was a little pricey, he pleased with his ability to bounce back from a poor start. He made his T20I debut in the same series, for those who are unaware. In the one ODI he played, Arshdeep made an impression with figures of 2/33 in Ahmedabad.
A back spasm prevented Bumrah, who led India in wicket-taking in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, from playing on the last day of the Sydney Test. After more testing, it was determined that he had sustained a lower back injury. It was not to be. The administration had hoped that Bumrah would heal in time for the major championship.
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