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Since making his ODI debut for India against Australia in January 2019, Mohammed Siraj has played 44 matches and has 71 wickets to his name.
Navjot Sidhu questions Mohammed Siraj’s omission from India’s Champions Trophy squad. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Former Indian opening batter Navjot Singh Sidhu has questioned Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee’s decision to drop Mohammed Siraj from India’s ODI squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Siraj, who became world No. 1 ODI bowler in September 2023, was left out of the 15-member squad in favour of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.
Arshdeep, who has only played eight ODIs for India so far, was in red-hot form in the T20 World Cup 2024. He finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker in the tournament and played a big role in Team India’s title win.
According to Sidhu, Indian selectors have given preference to all-rounders in the squad, but if he had to pick the side, he would have included Siraj.
“Going by India’s squad for the Champions Trophy, it looks like selectors have given importance to the all-rounders,” Sidhu told Sports Tak.
“The squad has four quality all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. And this team has the ability to stand tall in difficult situations. But if I had to pick the side, I would have played four seamers and three spinners. I would have kept Mohammed Siraj in the squad for sure,” he added.
Since making his ODI debut for India against Australia in Adelaide on January 15, 2019, Siraj has played 44 matches and has 71 wickets to his name. He played in all 11 matches for India in the ODI World Cup 2023 and accounted for the dismissal of 14 batters.
Sidhu, who has donned the hat of an expert and commentator, also explained the reason why Siraj should have been picked for the ICC Champions Trophy, where India will play all its matches in Dubai.
“Reason being, the last time when we carried four spinners in West Indies, you left aside one of them (Yuzvendra Chahal) and didn’t give him a game. But if you look at Sharjah and Dubai conditions, spinners are not that effective there. A little bit here and there, but overall I see a good balance in the side.”
India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
