Arshdeep Singh made a strong statement on his return to India’s playing XI in the third T20I against Australia at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. After sitting out the first two matches of the series, the left-arm pacer finally got his chance, and he grabbed it with both hands.
India made three changes for the game, bringing in Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, and Washington Sundar in place of Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, and Kuldeep Yadav.
India’s stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to make use of the conditions. The decision worked perfectly as Arshdeep gave India a dream start. In just the first over of the match, he dismissed the dangerous Travis Head with a sharp delivery that caught the Australian opener off guard.
Arshdeep wasn’t done yet. In his next over, he struck again, this time removing Josh Inglis, who had been in good form. Within two overs, Australia were in trouble, and India had full control of the game. It was the kind of performance that reminded fans why he is rated so highly in India’s T20 setup. The 26-year-old pacer has built a reputation for his calmness and precision, especially in death overs.
Fans react strongly on social media after Arshdeep Singh’s terrific start in 3rd T20I
While India celebrated Arshdeep’s early breakthroughs, fans on social media turned their attention to head coach Gautam Gambhir. Many questioned why Arshdeep was benched for the first two games, given that his form and experience could have been valuable from the start.
Twitter and Instagram were flooded with reactions, memes, and sarcastic comments aimed at Gambhir. Some fans said Arshdeep had “answered with the ball,” while others joked that the pacer had “auditioned for his own selection.”
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One fan wrote, “Gautam Gambhir finally realizes what Arshdeep can do,” while another said, “Two matches late, but better late than never.” The tone was playful yet pointed — fans were clearly thrilled with Arshdeep’s comeback but frustrated by the team’s earlier choices.
Arshdeep Singh has been one of India’s most consistent performers in the T20I format over the last few years. He is for his ability to bowl both at the start and at the death and he brings balance to the bowling attack.
India’s decision to bring Arshdeep back into the side paid off immediately. His early wickets set the tone for the rest of the innings and gave the team much-needed momentum. Arshdeep Singh picked up three wickets, giving away 45 runs in his quota of four overs.
Australia posted 186/6 in 20 overs with the help of Tim David’s 74 (38) and Marcus Stoinis’ 64 (39). In reply, India chased down the target in 18.3 overs. Washington Sundar was the pick of the batters in the run-chase as he scored an unbeaten 49 off 23 (3 fours, 4 sixes). As things stand, Australia and India have won a game each so far. The fourth T20I will kick off on November 6 at Bill Pippen Oval, Gold Coast.
“I’ve just been working on my process, trusting my skills, and executing the plans I’ve practised. It feels great to contribute when I get the chance. Yes (enjoying bowling to aggressive batters), definitely. When someone is coming hard at you, there’s always a chance to pick up wickets. And when someone like Bumrah is bowling from the other end, batters often take more risks against me, that gives me wicket-taking opportunities. I just try to enjoy my bowling and keep my plans simple. No matter the situation – powerplay or death – I just focus on execution and stick to what I’ve practiced,” Arshdeep Singh said after receiving the Man of the Match award.
