Ajit Agarkar verbally assaulted by World Cup winner over Mohammed Siraj’s Asia Cup snub
Published - 20 Aug 2025, 04:15 PM | Updated - 20 Aug 2025, 04:16 PM
Table of Contents
The Indian selectors have announced the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 that has already sparked intense debate among the fans and former cricketers, but for many, the biggest shock is the exclusion of the in-form paceman Mohammed Siraj.
Despite being India’s hero in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 in England, Mohammed Siraj has been overlooked for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. The fiery pacer was unstoppable on English soil, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps.
Mohammed Siraj snubbed for Asia Cup 2025 despite England heroics
His spells at Edgbaston and The Oval played a key role in India’s victories against England. Still, the Indian selectors didn’t find him suitable for the T20I format, as he has been kept on the sidelines. They went with Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana in the pace attack.
Prasidh Krishna has been selected as the reserve fast bowler for the upcoming continental tournament. This decision hasn’t gone down well with the former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. He believes that India has made a blunder by overlooking Siraj, who is in red-hot form.
The former World Cup winner has pointed out that Siraj’s pace, energy, and ability to strike in crunch moments could have been the “X-factor” the Men in Blue needed in the tournament.
India will miss Mohammed Siraj’s X-Factor: Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh said on his YouTube channel, “I feel that Mohammed Siraj’s name should have been included as well. Siraj bowled very well in the recent series. Yes, he did a lot of bowling in England, but he also got adequate rest. So, he could have been included. If he had been taken, the team would have looked even stronger. The bowling unit would have seemed stronger. I feel that the “X-factor” that Siraj brings might be somewhat missed.”
Notably, Mohammed Siraj has not played a T20I since India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph in the USA and Caribbean. Siraj’s exclusion from the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 is a clear hint that the fast bowler is no longer a part of India’s T20I setup under Gautam Gambhir.
Shreyas Iyer’s Asia Cup 2025 snub stuns Harbhajan Singh
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has also stunned Harbhajan Singh. Despite his stellar IPL 2025 campaign as Punjab Kings captain, Iyer was not picked for the tournament. His snub has raised serious questions over the selectors’ strategy.
Harbhajan signed off by saying, “I had hoped he (Shreyas Iyer) would get a place in the team. He scored a lot of runs, played in the IPL final, and was in very good form. I thought his name could have been there. As for whose spot he would take, you have to see whose place it would have been. When someone has to be included or left out, a spot is made. But I did not see Shreyas Iyer’s name there, which surprised me a little.”
Notably, India is placed alongside Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE in Group A, while Group B features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong in the Asia Cup 2025. The Men in Blue will kick off their campaign on September 9 against the UAE.
Tagged:
Mohammed Siraj Shreyas Iyer Harbhajan Singh India National Cricket Team Asia Cup Ajit AgarkarAbout the Author
Rashmi Wasnik is a passionate content writer with over a decade of experience. She started her journ... Read more
