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Suresh Raina believes Mohammed Siraj could make a Champions Trophy comeback if Bumrah remains unfit for the tournament.
Mohammed Siraj was not included in India’s 15-man provisional squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. (Image: AFP)
Amidst concerns regarding India’s pace department with Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness concerns and Mohammed Shami only just making his return to international cricket in over a year, Suresh Raina reckons that Mohammed Siraj can still make his way into the squad that will take part in the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 in the United Arab Emirates later this year.
In India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad, the pace department has been a major concern with senior stars in the race to return to being fit for the tournament. Shami will have to make his case for selection in the upcoming white-ball games against England while Bumrah’s availability remains a mystery.
Another surprising call that was taken by the Indian cricket board was to not pick Siraj, who, along with Bumrah and Shami, were the fast-bowling trio that featured in India’s 2023 World Cup campaign, where they made the final. Siraj’s form was a big concern in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, where he finished with 20 wickets and was India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the series behind Bumrah.
Despite the concerns regarding Siraj’s selection, the former Indian cricketer, Suresh Raina, has backed the Hyderabad pacer to make his way back into the side and feels that he is the ideal option to replace Bumrah should the pace spearhead be unable to return to fitness.
“Siraj was in a different form in Australia, but you can change the squad till 12 February. So I feel Siraj can be back in the side if Bumrah is not fully fit,” Raina said on Star Sports Press Room.
“Harshit Rana has done well. He has good pace, good bumper, variation, yorker, and pace. He and both Arshdeep Singh can bowl at the death, but I still feel Siraj is a better option if Bumrah is not there,” he added.
With Bumrah and Shami’s uncertainties, the selectors will have to dip into their reserves, and Siraj’s experience in the big tournaments could make him the ideal candidate as a replacement for either. However, his wicket-taking abilities are a big concern of late and have been under the shadow of Bumrah and Shami’s brilliance even in India’s ODI World Cup campaign. It remains a mystery as to whether Siraj can re-discover his best form ahead of the tournament as well.
(with PTI Inputs)
