IND vs ENG: After denied Test debut in 5th Test, India pacer Arshdeep Singh poses with family in London – see pic | Cricket News
As India kicked off the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval, discussions around team selection once again became a major talking point, not just for those who made it into the playing XI, but also for those left on the sidelines for the entire series. One such name is promising left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who despite being in the squad, is yet to make his Test debut.Arshdeep, who was recovering from an injury earlier in the tour, was considered a strong contender for the final Test after regaining match fitness. However, with India opting for Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and debutant Akash Deep as their pace trio, the 26-year-old was left out once again.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite the disappointment, Arshdeep appeared in good spirits, as a picture surfaced of him posing with his family in London, smiling and soaking in the atmosphere. The image quickly gained traction on social media, with fans praising his calm demeanour and patience.Arshdeep wasn’t the only one to go unused throughout the series. Kuldeep Yadav and Abhimanyu Easwaran also remained on the bench for all five Tests. Kuldeep’s omission, in particular, raised eyebrows given his recent form in red-ball cricket. But the numbers from The Oval may explain the decision, since the beginning of 2023, pacers have taken 617 wickets at the venue, compared to just 79 by spinners, including a dominant 131 of 150 wickets this season alone.For Easwaran, it was another frustrating chapter in his stop-start career with the national side. The Bengal batter has often been part of touring squads but continues to await his long-anticipated debut.With India chasing a series-levelling win, the tactical choices are under scrutiny. But for players like Arshdeep, the wait continues — with patience, promise, and perhaps a debut not far away.India (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel(w), Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed SirajEngland (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope(c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue
