T20 World Cup 2026: Mohammed Siraj breaks silence on his snub from India squad

Mohammed Siraj has taken his omission from India’s squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in his stride, responding with maturity and clarity when questioned ahead of the third and final ODI against New Zealand.

The Indian fast bowler, who was part of the title-winning T20 World Cup squad in 2024, will not feature in the home edition of the tournament that begins on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India have opted for a pace unit led by Jasprit Bumrah, supported by Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, with Hardik Pandya providing the fourth seam option.

Although missing out on a World Cup always hurts, Siraj made it clear that there is no bitterness. He expressed full confidence in the selected squad and backed the team to successfully defend the trophy. India are placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, the Netherlands, the USA, and Namibia, and will open their campaign against the USA.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Hyderabad-born pacer described World Cup cricket as a special dream for any player but emphasised that the team’s success comes first. He said the current squad looks strong both on paper and in terms of form, and he wished them nothing but success, adding that he hopes the trophy stays in India.

Siraj also came out in support of chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, explaining that his absence from the T20 World Cup squad is linked to workload management rather than loss of faith. While he remains a key member of India’s Test setup, his role in white-ball cricket has seen rotation since Gambhir took over.

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The fast bowler highlighted the physical demands of fast bowling across formats and underlined the importance of rest. He pointed out that he was rested for the ODI series against South Africa after a heavy workload in the preceding Test series, including bowling 40 overs in one match. According to Siraj, such breaks are essential for fast bowlers to stay sharp, maintain rhythm, and avoid burnout.

Siraj concluded by saying that he has not been dropped in and out randomly, but managed carefully, stressing that continuous Test cricket requires intense physical effort and recovery to remain effective at the highest level.