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Champions Trophy 2025 : Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has voiced his preference for Arshdeep Singh over Harshit Rana in India's playing XI for the upcoming Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh on Thursday. India enters the tournament without its star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out due to injury. Rana, who impressed in the recent series against England, has been named as his replacement.
Speaking on the ICC review, Ponting expressed his inclination toward including a left-arm pacer. “I would opt for a left-arm fast bowler. I would prefer Arshdeep in the team (in Bumrah’s absence),” Ponting stated.
Highlighting Arshdeep’s strengths, he added, “We all know how effective he is in T20 cricket. If we compare skill sets, he perhaps possesses similar abilities to Bumrah, particularly with the new ball and at the death overs. India will certainly feel Bumrah's absence.”
Ponting clarified that his stance was not a critique of Harshit Rana’s capabilities. “This does not take anything away from Harshit Rana. He is incredibly talented, and we have seen the impact he can make with the new ball. However, I don’t think he is as skilled as Arshdeep Singh when it comes to death bowling,” he remarked.
The former Australian skipper also emphasized the tactical advantage of having a left-arm pacer in the lineup. “A left-arm fast bowler adds variety to the attack. Someone who can swing the new ball is crucial, especially in a major tournament where many top-order batsmen are right-handed. If I were selecting the Indian team, I would prioritize this factor,” Ponting concluded.
