ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammed Siraj's India career over? Ex-cricketer makes big prediction
Published - 15 Feb 2025, 04:06 PM | Updated - 15 Feb 2025, 11:35 PM
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Mohammed Siraj's exclusion from India’s 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world, as the young pacer Harshit Rana has been picked as Jasprit Bumrah's replacement for the mega event.
Recently, the former Indian batter and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra has shared his views on the national selectors' questionable decision to select Harshit Rana over Mohammed Siraj despite his experience of representing the country in 44 ODIs, where he scalped 71 wickets.
Did Indian selectors make a big mistake by ignoring Mohammed Siraj for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025?
The right-arm pacer was one of the key architects behind the Indian cricket team’s success in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where they suffered defeat in the title clash against Australia. Well, Aakash Chopra has emphasized that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 omission doesn’t define Siraj’s career.
The Hyderabad fast bowler has been a key figure in India's pace attack in recent years, but still, he was overlooked. Well, Chopra mentioned that Siraj’s recent performances might not have been extraordinary, but they haven’t been poor either, indirectly slamming the selectors for his snub.
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CT 2025 snub won't define Mohammed Siraj: Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “One tournament's selection or non-selection won't define Mohammed Siraj. He is too good a player and has been doing very well for a long time. You should look at it from two or three angles. Firstly, how the player is doing. I don't think he is doing badly. His performance might not be extraordinary, but he is not doing bad either.”
Siraj’s journey so far has been built on sheer hard work and determination, and the cricket pundit didn’t forget to mention how the fast bowler stayed back in Australia and helped India to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 despite the passing of his father.
Chopra further noted, “The guy's work ethic is excellent. He puts cricket before everything else. He was playing cricket when his father passed away as well. He didn't return home. He stayed back for the BGT (Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21) as his father also wanted him to play. He has reached this far after putting in a lot of hard work. He won't accept defeat so early.”
Aakash Chopra predicts a strong future for Mohammed Siraj
The former Indian batter has indirectly sent a warning to the young pacers Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh to deliver; otherwise, the selectors can’t keep Siraj away from the team for too long. Chopra stressed that the competition for fast bowlers is tough, and he feels Siraj's future is strong.
The commentator also felt that “outstanding” Jasprit Bumrah is the only bowler who is currently irreplaceable in the Indian cricket team, which means Siraj still has a great chance to make a comeback, and he can take the place of either Mohammed Shami, Harshit, or Arshdeep.
Chopra signed off by saying, “Siraj can play in place of Shami, Harshit, and Arshdeep. Siraj can fit into any of the available places. After that also, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep; a lot of names are there, but there is no one like Bumrah. So, for Siraj, I feel there is a strong future ahead of him.”
