“I prefer Arshdeep Singh over Harshit Rana” - Robin Uthappa ahead of India’s T20I series vs NZ

Former Indian keeper-batter Robin Uthappa has stated that the Indian T20I side should go ahead with Arshdeep Singh ahead of Harshit Rana in the playing XI, irrespective of the playing conditions. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, though Uthappa acknowledged Rana’s batting lower down the order, he went on to add that having Axar Patel in the XI can fill that void by having six bowling options and eight batting options.

“I like Harshit as a bowler; he’s immensely talented, but I prefer Arshdeep over Harshit in any circumstances. As batter, if Harshit can hit three sixes in ten balls, I think Arshdeep can hit two at this point. What he brings to the table is far more valuable than Harshit at this point,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.

“In my view, Axar is a very underrated bowler. Yes, Kuldeep is amazing, and if the conditions allow three spinners, then unfortunately, Arshdeep has to miss out, which I don’t like. I think Arshdeep, irrespective of any wicket, should play. Which means unfortunately, Kuldeep has to be out because Varun is the No.1 T20I bowler in the world,” he added.

“Between Axar and Kuldeep, I always feel [that] having eight batters is important. And if you have eight batters and six bowlers, that’s the sweetest spot where you can stay in the T20I game… There is no better thing, no better blessing you can get in a team; you have to maintain that,” Uthappa concluded.

The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign is scheduled to commence on Saturday, February 7, and the defending champions India will start their campaign against the USA on Saturday, February 7.

India updated squad for first three T20Is vs New Zealand: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel (vc), Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.

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