India National Cricket Team batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has finally addressed the rumours of the ‘personal liking, disliking’ over the snub of premier pacer Arshdeep Singh from the playing XI.
Sitanshu Kotak bluntly said that no agenda is involved in the India selections and the coaches and captain make decisions based on the team’s needs.
Arshdeep Singh – India’s highest T20I wicket-taker warms the bench
The 26-year-old Punjab pacer Arshdeep Singh has been warming the bench for the India National Cricket Team for quite some time now.
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Arshdeep Singh is regarded as one of the best pacers in the world, and he is at a phase of his career where he is fully fit, away from injuries, and ready to fire.
Despite that, the pacer has not been getting consistent opportunities in the Indian team across formats, and he was recently dropped from the T20I playing XI, even though he is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is.
Arshdeep Singh, who last played an international game for India against England on February 12, 2025, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, was kept on the bench across all five matches of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 and then snubbed from the playing XI in India’s Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE.
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So, everyone knows that there is no agenda – Sitanshu Kotak
Arshdeep Singh’s snub for the UAE game led to the fans being furious at Gautam Gambhir, and many bashed him, accusing him of being biased.
However, Sitanshu Kotak has come forward to provide some clarity on the team selection process, stating:
“Because, the first discussion we have with the head coach and the captain is that obviously, these 15 are like this, everyone deserves to play.
“If any player is not playing, it will be difficult for him because he will feel missed out. But, at the end of the day, it’s a team sport. So, everyone knows that there is no agenda, there is no personal liking, disliking.”
Notably, India went ahead with a single frontline pacer – Jasprit Bumrah – against the UAE in the Asia Cup 2025 match, with all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube being other seam-bowling options
Whatever is best for the team, the captain and head coach will decide – Sitanshu Kotak
Kotak further said that the head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav are aligned towards achieving the team goals, and they make their decisions keeping in mind how it would benefit the team.
“Whatever is best for the team, the captain and head coach will decide and do that. And I don’t think there is any doubt in anybody’s mind. So, whoever is not playing, they are always trying to help the guys who are playing,” he added
Notably, India also followed the single frontline pacer philosophy in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and relied heavily on spinners, eventually winning the competition.
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