ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammed Siraj breaks silence on ODI snub
Published - 20 Jan 2025, 02:38 PM | Updated - 20 Jan 2025, 02:41 PM
Team India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj grabbed the headlines after being dropped from the squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be played in Pakistan and Dubai. Mohammed Siraj shared a cryptic post on his official Instagram account, which grabbed the attention of fans.
The Indian squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 was revealed on January 18. While the core of the team remains the same as that of the World Cup 2023, the omission of Siraj has caught attention. Siraj has been a key figure in India's ODI lineup in recent years, delivering several match-winning performances.
Mohammed Siraj Shares Cryptic Post on Instagram After Champions Trophy Snub
Mohammed Siraj shared the post on social media after being excluded from India's squad for the Champions Trophy, sparking debates among cricket experts. On Monday, January 20, the 30-year-old pacer posted a picture from the gym on his Instagram story with the caption, "reset, restart, refocus."
Take a look a the post below:
Mohammad Siraj's Instagram story & he's working hard in the gym.
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) January 20, 2025
- Comeback strong, Miyan Magic..!!!! 💪 pic.twitter.com/BvNs06xRAt
Siraj will also not be part of the ODIs against England ahead of the Champions Trophy. He last played for India during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he took 20 wickets. He was the second-highest wicket-taker for India in the series, behind Jasprit Bumrah (32), and the fourth-highest overall.
Mohammed Siraj Had Played a Crucial Role in the World Cup - Sanjay Bangar
Sanjay Bangar, former assistant coach of Team India, shared his thoughts on the exclusion of Mohammed Siraj from India's squad for the Champions Trophy. In a chat with ESPN Cricinfo, Bangar expressed confusion over why Siraj was overlooked in favor of Harshit Rana, who is yet to play for India in ODIs.
"If you have to read between the lines, it seems that Harshit has more confidence towards the last phase of the game i.e. the bowling innings and has more resources. That is what Rohit Sharma is trying to say," Bangar stated.
"Mohammed Siraj had played a crucial role in the World Cup in some of the games in the middle-order. So not sure about the reasons why Harshit Rana was picked or preferred ahead of Siraj. Siraj has shown over a period of time that he can really do well and always looks to pick up wickets and can win games before it reaches the last phase," he further added.
Harshit Rana Has Been Included as a Backup for Jasprit Bumrah
Harshit Rana has been included as a backup for Jasprit Bumrah in India’s ODI squad for the series against England. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar said that Bumrah’s inclusion depends on his fitness. Siraj was left out as India opted for Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh as the other pacers in the squad.
Siraj held the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI Rankings from September 20 to November 14, 2023. He has significant experience playing in the UAE, where India’s matches will be held, with Pakistan being the official host. He played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the UAE during the IPL 2020 and 2021 seasons.
