Former Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron has urged the team management to include Arshdeep Singh in the side’s playing XI for the third ODI against New Zealand. Aaron highlighted that Singh takes wickets with the new ball and must be included in the series decider.
India suffered a seven-wicket loss against New Zealand in the second ODI after they could not defend the target of 285. The hosts have backed the pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna in the first two games.
Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh has scalped 22 wickets in 14 ODI matches at an average of 24.91. Singh is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 110 scalps in 72 matches and he can get the ball to move both ways in the Powerplay overs. The left-arm pacer can consistently hit the blockhole in the death overs.
“I think taking wickets with the new ball (will be important). Bring Arshdeep Singh back. It is a decider. He takes wickets with the new ball wherever he plays. According to me, Arshdeep Singh should play this important game,” Varun Aaron said on JioStar.
On the other hand, former Indian pacer Zaheer Khan reckons Arshdeep Singh will be a regular part of India’s final XI in the ODI World Cup.
“Arshdeep, when you look at the World Cup, will definitely be there. So this is just a trial and error, which is why Arshdeep is out, in my opinion. Hopefully, it’s not a long-term thing that the Indian team is thinking. He has been proving himself consistently, so in the long term, he’ll definitely be around,” said Zaheer on Cricbuzz.
The third ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at Indore on Sunday.
