• Team India management faced backlash from fans over Arshdeep Singh’s exclusion against UAE in Asia Cup 2025 clash.

  • Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to field first.

Asia Cup 2025: Fans outrage over Team India’s decision to bench Arshdeep Singh against UAE
Fans outrage over Team India’s decision to bench Arshdeep Singh against UAE (Image source: X)

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Team India commenced their Asia Cup 2025 campaign against United Arab Emirates at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10, with captain Suryakumar Yadav winning the toss and opting to field first. However, the major talking point ahead of the Group A encounter was the unexpected exclusion of premier left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh from the playing XI, sparking widespread criticism from cricket fans across social media platforms.

Indian fans slam team management for dropping Arshdeep Singh in IND vs UAE match

The decision to drop Arshdeep came as a massive shock considering his stellar T20I record and current form. India’s leading T20I wicket-taker with 99 scalps in 63 matches at an impressive average of 18.30, Arshdeep was on the verge of creating history by becoming the first Indian bowler to claim 100 T20I wickets. The left-arm pacer needed just one more wicket to achieve this milestone and would have been the fourth-fastest bowler globally to reach the landmark.

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun had earlier expressed concerns about Arshdeep’s match practice ahead of the tournament, noting that the pacer hadn’t played for India since February 2025 and participated in only one Duleep Trophy match before joining the Asia Cup squad. Despite these concerns, fans expected the management to include their premier death-over specialist in the crucial opener.

The exclusion became even more controversial when India’s playing XI was announced with Varun Chakaravarthy preferred over the experienced campaigner. Cricket fans took to social media platforms expressing their displeasure with the team management’s decision, with many questioning the logic behind benching India’s most successful T20I bowler for a relatively straightforward opponent like UAE.

Here’s how fans reacted:

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Playing XI of both the teams

United Arab Emirates: Muhammad Waseem(c), Alishan Sharafu, Muhammad Zohaib, Rahul Chopra(w), Asif Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Haider Ali, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Junaid Siddique, Simranjeet Singh

India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy

Also READ: Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai sizzle as Afghanistan thrash Hong Kong in Asia Cup 2025 opener

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About the Author:
AKASH THAPA
Akash Thapa is a dedicated cricket journalist with three years of experience in the media industry. A BA (JMC) graduate from VIPS, GGSIPU, and a postgraduate in MAJMC from the University of Lucknow, Akash combines his academic credentials with a deep-rooted passion for cricket.His background as a former junior-level wrestler and cricketer enriches his insightful analysis and commentary on the game. Known for his inventive approach to writing and his commitment to capturing the nuances of cricket, Akash is a true aficionado of the sport.Connect with Akash on LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.