"Tight slap to Gambhir": Fans rejoice after Arshdeep Singh strikes early in IND vs NZ 3rd ODI

Gautam Gambhir trolled for Arshdeep Singh [Source: Screengrabs]

It is a no-brainer that Arshdeep Singh has been neglected in India’s ODI setup, despite being the first active bowler to take 100 wickets in T20Is. This naturally led to many slamming Gautam Gambhir for overlooking the pace talent, especially as Arshdeep has played only five of the 13 ODIs under Gambhir’s coaching tenure.

Arshdeep Singh has been a vital cog in India’s pace unit whenever he has featured in the playing XI, and proving how lethal he can be, he once again struck early in the third ODI against New Zealand in Indore.

How Arshdeep Singh dismissed Nicholls

Arshdeep Singh dismissed Henry Nicholls on the fourth ball of the first over, sending him back for a golden duck. Bowling at a relatively modest pace of 129 kph, Arshdeep pitched the ball on a good length outside the off stump, which swung away late.

Nicholls attempted to leave the delivery, but the ball brushed the edge of his bat, went off the face of the blade, and crashed into the middle and leg stump. The dismissal painted a perfect picture of Arshdeep’s case for a recall into India’s ODI setup ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

Netizens breathe fire on the internet to slam Gambhir

Notably, Arshdeep was named in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad as well as the New Zealand T20I squad. However, he was benched for the first two matches of the ODI series and only featured in the final game, the series decider, where Gambhir opted to play him by benching Prasidh Krishna. 

Harshit Rana, meanwhile, continued to be backed due to his prolific wicket-taking form for India in recent times. While Harshit Rana’s selection has not been questioned because of his consistent performances with the ball, Arshdeep Singh’s omission sparked frustration among fans on social media, who questioned Gautam Gambhir’s judgment in selection.

Internet users were visibly aggravated and trolled Gautam Gambhir relentlessly for not opting for Arshdeep Singh in the first two ODIs.

Let us take a look at how social media reacted to Gambhir’s decision:

DEV Shekhawat

@dshekhawat19

@Rajiv1841 The numbers are actually shocking—under Gambhir, Arshdeep has only played 5 out of 13 T20Is. ​It makes no sense to treat a World Cup top wicket-taker like a part-timer. He came in today and struck in the first over immediately. That proves he needs to be a regular starter, not an

Nayan Darji.

@nayandarjidenap

Gambhir and Gill should put their pride aside and give #arshdeepsingh a chance in every match. He is a premium left-handed fast bowler and with more opportunities Arshdeep could one day become a strong bowler like Zaheer Khan in the team. Drop Prasidh Krishna. #INDvNZ

Sam

@Cricsam01

@Tejashyyyyy Arshdeep Singh prove that goatam gambhir is wrong 🔥

'

@Kohli_storm18

I think Gambhir is ruining Arshdeep career by not giving him matches at the right time and wasting his prime

X

@MSDADDIC

🚨 ARSHDEEP DESERVES MORE CHANCES BUT SHUBMAN GILL IGNORE HIM..?🚨 Arshdeep takes wickets in every format. Still, Gautam Gambhir keeps him out of many games. With Bumrah, Arshdeep can help India win the T20 WC and 2027 WC 🔥

Jan 18, 2026, 2:30 PM

Oxygen

@Oxygen18_

Our NASA scientist Gambhir always benches Arshdeep in low-pressure and easy matches. But whenever the team is under pressure, he suddenly brings Arshdeep in expecting him to fail. And every single time, Arshdeep proves him wrong and destroys that narrative.

Jaskaran Meho

@jskrnmeho

Arshdeep singh exceed over every limit, mentioning him was the worst decision. These management could do. Indian cricket board is playing gamble by dropping him and losing it every time, Gautam Gambhir and the selection committee need to keep things in mind that these coaching

.

@instalcon1

Arshdeep Singh should play every ODI & T20s for team India. Gautam Gambhir is ruining his prime.

Tejash

@Tejashyyyyy

Arshdeep Singh is a beast in both ODI and T20i format I am sure he can be the beast of the Test format as well, but still Gautam Gambhir is dropping him in most of the games and not even giving him a chance in the Test format 💔 #INDvsNZ

Jan 18, 2026, 2:22 PM

Prem

@premro_

Arshdeep Singh has always been a wicket taker for India in every format. Still Gautam Gambhir used to bench him in most of the games. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep will be the key in the T20 World Cup and the 2027 WC if Gambhir does not play politics

Kusha Sharma 

@Kushacritic

This is not a wicket, this is a tight slap to Gautam Gambhir. Arshdeep Singh should always be in the playing XI for India in ODIs and T20Is.

Jan 18, 2026, 2:12 PM

AkCricTalks🎤🇮🇳

@AKCricTalks

@HariMohan3042 Arshdeep the match winner. But only a peson like GG can keep him out of XI

Sonu

@Cricket_live247

Gautam Gambhir shocked as Arshdeep Singh cleaned up Henry Nicholls in the 1st over of the IND vs NZ 3rd ODI. Gautam Gambhir did not include Arshdeep Singh in the playing XI for the 1st and 2nd ODIs against New Zealand.

Jan 18, 2026, 1:55 PM

Arshdeep Singh’s flawless recent form

Turning attention to Arshdeep Singh’s recent form, the left-arm pacer has been impressive across formats. He enjoyed a solid Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign, picking up seven wickets in two matches, including a five-wicket haul for just 34 runs against Sikkim while representing Punjab.

During India vs South Africa in 2025, Arshdeep claimed five wickets in the T20I series and bagged another five wickets across three ODIs. With Arshdeep Singh in good form, he shapes up as a strong deputy to Jasprit Bumrah in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad.

Was the Prasidh Krishna-Arshdeep swap justified?

The decision to replace Prasidh Krishna was a justified one, with Krishna being effective only in the first ODI against New Zealand, where he picked up two wickets but conceded 60 runs. In the second ODI, Krishna leaked 149 runs for just one wicket, prompting the Gautam Gambhir-led team management to amend the combination.

Notably, while Arshdeep Singh’s ODI numbers are not as eye-catching as his T20I record, he has still been effective in the format, taking 22 wickets from 14 ODIs at a strike rate of 28.2 and an economy rate of 5.29.