According to Anil Kumble, Arshdeep Singh should secure his spot in the XI if India decides to limit themselves to two specialist fast bowlers in the West Indies. The legendary spinner suggests that Mohammed Siraj should be the one to leave the pace attack to create space for another spin option.
Following a stellar outing against the USA—where he took 4 wickets for just 9 runs—Arshdeep has caught Kumble's eye. The former captain noted that Arshdeep's performance in the high-pressure final over against Pakistan, combined with his tactical versatility in T20s, puts him ahead of Siraj.
Kumble believes that if India goes with a combination of two seamers and Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep is the right choice because his left-arm pace adds a unique dimension to the attack. He emphasized that while Jasprit Bumrah is a locked-in starter, Arshdeep should be the one supporting him alongside Pandya.
Arshdeep has been one of India's most effective players in the T20 World Cup so far, boasting seven wickets across three games with an impressive economy of 6.22 and a strike rate of 10.28. Meanwhile, 30-year-old Siraj has found it difficult, managing only a single wicket in three appearances with a strike rate of 66. India is now preparing for their final group match against Canada in Lauderhill, Florida, on Saturday, June 15, before traveling to the Caribbean.