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Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has publicly addressed his exclusion from India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad, rejecting captain Rohit Sharma’s claim that his “ineffectiveness with the old ball” influenced the decision.
Notably, Siraj, a consistent performer across formats since 2023, was replaced by Harshit Rana after Jasprit Bumrah’s injury.
Stats vs Selectors’ Stance
At a pre-match IPL 2025 press conference, Siraj countered Rohit’s remarks with data stating that he had taken the most wickets with the old ball among the world’s top 10 fast bowlers in the past year, with a low economy.
Despite a recent dip in form, including a lackluster final Test against Australia in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Siraj highlighted his strong comeback in the same series, taking 20 wickets overall.
Rohit had defended the snub, stating, 'Siraj’s impact reduces without the new ball. We prioritized seamers fulfilling specific roles.' He also emphasized squad balance, adding, 'We needed all-rounders. It’s unfortunate, but we had no choice.'
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Focus on IPL and Future Tours
Siraj, now with the Gujarat Titans after eight seasons at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, remains pragmatic. 'Selection isn’t in my hands. I’m focusing on IPL and winning for my team,' he said along the lines.
Further, the 31-year-old revealed he used his break to refine his bowling, working on slower deliveries and yorkers.
While eyeing India’s upcoming England Test series and Asia Cup 2025, Siraj stressed that while those tours are on my mind, his priority was performing in the IPL.
