When journalists cornered Arshdeep Singh after India’s commanding 48-run victory over New Zealand in Nagpur on January 21, 2026, they expected the usual deflection. What they got instead was pure gold.
Asked about being shuffled in and out of the squad under head coach Gautam Gambhir, the left-arm speedster delivered a response that instantly went viral.
“Jaise main team se in and out hota hoon uska advantage bhi hai. Mera ball bhi in and out jaata hai,” Arshdeep quipped. Translation: “Being in and out of the team has its advantages. Just like I move in and out of the team, my ball also swings in and out.”
The press room erupted. Social media exploded. And somewhere, Gautam Gambhir probably cracked a rare smile.
The Numbers Behind the Swagger
Arshdeep’s confidence comes from cold, hard statistics. The 26-year-old has featured in 13 of India’s 21 T20Is throughout 2025, a rotation pattern that frustrated fans watching their premier wicket-taker sit idle during crucial Asia Cup encounters.
But here’s what the critics conveniently forget. Arshdeep owns 111 wickets across 73 T20 internationals. Last September, he etched his name in history as the first Indian bowler to breach the 100 T20I wicket barrier, achieving the feat against Oman.
The Nagpur demolition job added another feather to an already crowded cap. By dismissing Devon Conway, Arshdeep claimed the record for most wickets while opening the bowling in T20Is. His tally of 28 scalps in 67 innings surpasses both Shaheen Afridi and Junaid Siddique. For context, Shaheen required 87 innings to accumulate 27 wickets in identical circumstances.
First-over strikes? Arshdeep has collected 12 of them. Powerplay wickets since his 2022 debut? A competition-leading 43. The man delivers when it matters most.
Decoding Gambhir’s Grand Chess Game
Dismissing Gambhir’s rotation strategy as mere experimentation misses the bigger picture entirely.
Modern T20 cricket demands tactical flexibility. Conditions shift. Oppositions vary. Tournament preparation requires testing multiple combinations. With the T20 World Cup kicking off February 7, Gambhir needs answers, not assumptions.
The Nagpur match showcased India’s pace artillery at full throttle. Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep combined to strangle New Zealand’s chase. Arshdeep’s figures of 4-0-31-1 might appear modest on paper, but context reveals their true worth.
The pitch offered seamers nothing. Spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel shared three wickets between them on a surface tailor-made for their craft. Yet Arshdeep’s solitary wicket proved the match’s turning point.
Conway’s early exit shattered New Zealand’s chase psychology before it could establish any rhythm. Impact sometimes transcends the scorecard.
Mental Fortitude That Sets Champions Apart
What distinguishes Arshdeep from countless cricketers who spiral into negativity during rotation periods? His mindset reveals everything.
“My job is to remain ready and whenever team wants me to bowl in any format with new or old ball, I can give my best,” he stated matter-of-factly. “My aim is to enjoy the journey, remain in present and focus on the controllable. What is not in my control, I shouldn’t be bothered about it.”
Cricket selection breeds paranoia like few other professional environments. Players obsess over politics, favoritism, and phantom conspiracies. Arshdeep refuses to play that exhausting mental game. He trains relentlessly. He waits patiently. He delivers consistently.
His credentials demand respect. The 2024 T20 World Cup winner contributed 17 wickets during that triumphant campaign, equaling the tournament record. The ICC subsequently crowned him Men’s T20I Cricketer of the Year for 2024, marking the first time a bowler received that prestigious honor.
Dissecting the Conway Dismissal
Sanju Samson’s spectacular one-handed catch behind the stumps dominated highlight packages. But the delivery itself demonstrated Arshdeep’s mastery of his craft.
Picture the scenario. Second ball of the innings. New Zealand staring at a daunting 238-run target. Devon Conway, a left-hander with documented struggles against left-arm pace angling away from him, takes strike.
Arshdeep read the situation perfectly. He shaped one across the batter, extracting just enough movement off a good length to coax the fatal edge. Conway walked back, New Zealand’s chase was wounded, and India seized psychological control.
That strategic pattern persisted throughout his spell. Arshdeep varied his pace intelligently, never allowing batters comfortable scoring opportunities. Glenn Phillips eventually unleashed carnage against India’s spinners, smashing 78 off 40 deliveries. But Arshdeep’s overs surrendered just one boundary until the chase’s desperate dying stages.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 31 | 1 | 7.75 |
Why Smart Rotation Strengthens India’s Arsenal
Armchair critics love denouncing squad rotation. Tactical minds recognize its tournament-winning value.
India possesses embarrassing bowling riches. Bumrah remains the undisputed premium weapon. Hardik contributes pace alongside batting firepower. Mohammad Siraj brings express pace when conditions demand it. Harshit Rana emerges as an exciting young prospect with genuine pace and bounce.
Gambhir requires comprehensive data on every option before the World Cup commences. Playing conditions across tournament venues differ dramatically. Some pitches will reward swing bowling. Others will favor pace and bounce. India needs certainty about each bowler’s capabilities in varied circumstances.
Arshdeep embraces this reality because he recognizes his standing within it. He remains India’s all-time leading T20I wicket-taker. His death-overs expertise rescued numerous matches throughout 2024. When pressure peaks, he receives the ball for crucial overs.
Security breeds patience.
The World Cup Countdown Begins
Four matches remain in the New Zealand series. Raipur hosts the second T20I on Friday. Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvananthapuram follow in quick succession before India’s World Cup title defense begins.
Arshdeep will almost certainly miss at least one fixture. Gambhir’s evaluation process continues unabated. Kuldeep Yadav sat out the Nagpur contest. Harshit Rana observed from the dugout. Shreyas Iyer missed selection entirely despite being named in the squad.
None of this fazes Arshdeep Singh whatsoever. His deliveries still dance both directions. His yorkers still spear into the blockhole with lethal precision. His temperament still absorbs immense pressure without fracturing.
“Strategy changes depending on conditions,” he explained calmly. “Plans are made based on opposition, kind of total on the board, and we adapt accordingly. The key is to remain flexible.”
Flexibility in approach. Consistency in execution. Wit in the face of uncertainty.
India’s T20 World Cup defense will inevitably demand Arshdeep Singh’s unique skill set. When that decisive moment arrives, he will be ready. The in-and-out ball will continue swinging. The wickets will keep tumbling.
And Gambhir’s rotation policy will suddenly make complete sense to everyone who doubted it.
