ICC Champions Trophy 2025: 'Harshit Rana ahead of Mohammed Siraj is Gautam Gambhir quota': Fans furious after pacer's snub
Published - 18 Jan 2025, 03:31 PM | Updated - 18 Jan 2025, 04:04 PM
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The Indian chief selector, Ajit Agarkar, and captain Rohit Sharma have dropped the fiery pacer Mohammed Siraj from the ODI squad, as the BCCI announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, starting on February 19, 2025.
Sanju Samson and Mohammed Siraj are two big names missing from India's squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Siraj, who has been a regular feature in India's ODI scheme of things, hasn't even been included as a backup option for the prestigious tournament.
Fans outraged as Mohammed Siraj left out of India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad
Young Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh got the nod ahead of Mohammed Siraj, as the Indian cricket team is set to head to Dubai with three main pacers—Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and the Punjab lad—for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma said at the press conference, “We are not sure about Jasprit Bumrah, whether he was going to play or not. So, we thought we wanted someone who can bowl with the new ball and at the backend. So, we picked Arshdeep Singh to bowl at the backend. Mohammed Shami, we all saw what he can do with the new ball.”
Mohammed Siraj's effectiveness comes down when he is not bowling with the new ball: Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma added, “Mohammed Siraj, his effectiveness comes down when he is not bowling with the new ball. It's an unfortunate thing that Siraj has to miss out. But we had no option but to get the guys who can perform a certain role. I personally feel we have guys who can bowl with the new ball, bowl in the middle, and bowl at the backend. With these three bowlers, we think we can do that.”
Following Siraj’s dropping, fans went furious at the BCCI, Ajit Agarkar, and Rohit, saying they would regret dropping the pacer. Following the announcement, Indian fans have been saying the BCCI and Ajit Agarkar will cry for making such a selfish blunder for the big tournament.
Many fans have been blaming Mumbai influence for Mohammed Siraj’s snub, while some are calling it KKR and Gautam Gambhir influence, as Harshit Rana was preferred over the seasoned pacer for the Champions Trophy 2025 as a backup pacer. Rana named as Bumrah’s cover for the upcoming ODI series against England at home as the senior pacer will miss the first two ODIs.
Here's how fans react to Mohammed Siraj's snub for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
DSP sahab has different role for champions trophy #ChampionsTrophy2025#ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/iAe6OURtcd
— Pawan Gurjar (@Pawangurjar_inc) January 18, 2025
Shubhman gill as vice captain is the worst choice ajit Agarkar have made, mark my words.
— Om (@OmB09042914) January 18, 2025
Not nitish
Not samson
Not karun nair
Not siraj#ChampionsTrophy2025#ChampionsTrophy #IndianSquad
No Mohammad Siraj in Champions Trophy.
— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) January 18, 2025
It was a dream to see this trio lift an ICC trophy 💔 pic.twitter.com/wpuN4MfTPl
DSP Siraj to Rohit Sharma. #ChampionsTrophypic.twitter.com/5T5dziQExI
— Hum Binod (@BinodnotVinod) January 18, 2025
Feel for Siraj, he gave all his efforts and performances just to be betrayed by Mumbai Lobby 💔 pic.twitter.com/pCfWNLdvZN
— veer. (@epickolly) January 18, 2025
Selecting two newbies for the CT over Siraj is the decision this management is going to regret. pic.twitter.com/jHJhLcTOtq
— 𝐊𝐨𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭!𝟎𝐧_👑🚩 (@bholination) January 18, 2025
This guy did nothing wrong and still not selected for the team
— Crosswork11 (@Crosswork11) January 18, 2025
Harshit rana is back up of bumrah and not Siraj https://t.co/JciEvqSKBh pic.twitter.com/iavaSAQ6EX
Innings : 43
— Cric Informer (@CricInformer_) January 18, 2025
Wickets : 71
Avg : 24.04
Eco : 5.18
Fifers : 1
Last Indian to Become No.1 in ODI
Only Twice Remained Wicketless in Last 17 ODIs
Feel for MD. SIRAJ , He is Not part of CT Squad! pic.twitter.com/7ZEEgalrhF
What a Clownery.
— Mr.CONSISTENT(KK) (@RR_Since1998) January 18, 2025
Jadeja and axar both in 15,for what?
Harshit performed in t20,and is getting selected fir test and odi,also being seen to play just 2-3 games before ct.
Why siraj got dropped? https://t.co/OMZCi3GsP4
I don't know why harshit rana is there in the odi squad against England. You have siraj, prasidh. He has not performed exceptionally well in recent time.
— Yash Jagtap (@YashJag20546946) January 18, 2025
Just because of #KKR quota. #ChampionsTrophy2025 #INDvsENG
No Siraj? Really, Bcci thinks Harshit> Siraj even for the replacement in odi series 🙄 He was the Bumrah's replacement during 2022-2023 Bumrah's injury period. Is it just because Srilankans aren't playing?#ChampionsTrophy2025 #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/6u8hwflEGi
— Anup Jha (@AnupJha_18) January 18, 2025
The right-arm pacer has been in good form, and even in the recent Test series in Australia, he delivered with the ball, taking 20 wickets at an average of 31.15. He was recently the number one ranked ODI bowler in the world.
Mohammed Siraj has 71 wickets in 44 ODIs to his name, but still, the national selectors overlooked him and his experience for Arshdeep Singh, who is yet to make his ODI debut, for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
India Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh.
Notably, the Men in Blue will kick off their CT 2025 campaign against Bangladesh on February 23 in Dubai.
