Indian left-arm speedster Arshdeep Singh has sparked a lively debate among cricket enthusiasts after revealing his list of the top five Indian bowlers of all time. Speaking during a candid interaction on sports presenter’s YouTube channel, the Punjab-born pacer unveiled a preference order that raised plenty of eyebrows across the cricketing world. While his list features a fine blend of swing, seam, and world-class spin, the most striking aspect was the complete omission of India’s premier speedster, Jasprit Bumrah, a bowler widely regarded as the pinnacle of modern fast bowling.
Arshdeep Singh names his top five Indian bowlers
When tasked with ranking his personal top five Indian bowlers, Arshdeep candidly admitted that his choices were heavily influenced by personal admiration and shared experiences. Taking the coveted top spot was veteran swing maestro Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Arshdeep was quick to acknowledge his own bias, praising Bhuvneshwar’s extraordinary capability to command the new ball and set up batters with subtle movement.
“Bhuvi bhai is at the top because he is my personal favourite as well. I really like him, so I’m a little biased,” Arshdeep shared, choosing to rank the pacers first.
Occupying the second spot on his list was Mohammad Shami, a bowler Arshdeep holds in high esteem for his seam presentation and consistency across varied pitch conditions. Elaborating on Shami’s skill, Arshdeep noted, “At number two, I’d go with Shami bhai because, as you know, he can seam the ball on any wicket. His bowling is excellent, and he presents the seam perfectly.”
Interestingly, Bhuvneshwar and Shami were the only two fast bowlers to make Arshdeep’s cut. The remaining three spots were reserved entirely for spinners who have played pivotal roles in India’s recent limited-overs success. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav slotted in at number three, with Arshdeep highlighting his rare chinaman skill set. Domestic teammate and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took the fourth spot, with Arshdeep pointing to their shared dressing room bond at Punjab and Chahal’s stellar wicket-taking record.
To wrap up his list, Arshdeep selected legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin at number five. Acknowledging Ashwin’s vast stature and their history together Ashwin was Arshdeep’s first Indian Premier League captain at Punjab Kings, the young pacer jokingly offered a lighthearted apology for placing him fifth, promising to message the veteran off-spinner directly to clear the air.
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The curious case of Jasprit Bumrah’s omission
The absence of Jasprit Bumrah remains the biggest talking point following Arshdeep’s revelations. Bumrah, whose lethal yorkers, deceptive pace variations, and match-winning spells across formats have established him as one of the game’s modern greats, missed out entirely on his teammate’s top five.
While cricket fans often view lists through the lens of cold statistics and global rankings, Arshdeep’s picks serve as a reminder of how personal relationships, early inspirations, and shared dressing-room memories shape an athlete’s perspective. Though missing a blockbuster name like Bumrah, Arshdeep’s selection offers a rare, heartwarming glimpse into the deep respect and camaraderie he shares with his peers.
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