In a surprising decision, India pacer Mohammed Siraj was left out of the 15-member Champions Trophy squad announced in Mumbai on Saturday. Despite his stellar performances in recent years, the selectors opted for a different combination, including senior pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami alongside young left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh.
The omission comes as a shock to many, given Siraj’s impressive track record. The 30-year-old pacer has taken 71 wickets in 44 ODIs, emerging as one of India’s key bowlers in the format over the last three years. Siraj’s heroics in the 2023 Asia Cup final, where he recorded career-best figures of 6/21 against Sri Lanka, and his 14-wicket haul in the ODI World Cup, had solidified his position as a dependable bowler for the team.
However, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, chose to include Arshdeep Singh, who has played only eight ODIs so far. Captain Rohit Sharma addressed the decision during the press conference, emphasizing the need for variety in the pace attack, especially with questions surrounding Bumrah’s fitness.
“We are not sure if Jasprit Bumrah will play or not. Hence, we wanted someone who can bowl with the new ball and the old one. That is why we picked Arshdeep Singh, because of his abilities in the backend. Siraj’s effectiveness comes down if he doesn’t use the new ball. It’s unfortunate if he misses out,” Rohit explained.
Arshdeep’s inclusion brings a left-arm dimension to the bowling unit, complementing the right-arm pace of Bumrah and Shami. Additionally, all-rounder Hardik Pandya will provide a pace-bowling option in the Dubai-based tournament.
The decision also reflects a long-term strategy, with selectors preparing for contingencies in case Bumrah faces fitness issues. Rohit stressed the importance of having bowlers capable of handling both the new and old ball effectively in different match scenarios.
Siraj’s exclusion extends to the upcoming ODI series against England, where seamer Harshit Rana has been brought in to fill Bumrah’s slot. While Siraj’s absence has raised eyebrows, the selectors appear to be banking on Arshdeep’s ability to deliver in crunch moments.
The Champions Trophy 2025 will kick off in Dubai, with India entering as one of the favorites. As fans and analysts debate the team composition, all eyes will be on how the pace attack performs in the high-stakes tournament.
