Rohit Sharma explains why Mohammed Siraj was not picked in India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad.
Indian team for Champions Trophy 2025 finally comes out with some outstanding inclusions in the squad like Yashasvi Jaiswalearning his first call-up to the Indian team in the ODI format, Arshdeep Singh again selected for India in white-ball cricket, and Kuldeep Yadav appeared in the squad after being sidelined with a groin injury.
However, while there are many surprising inclusions, a number of players have not been given a place in the squad. The most prominent among such players is the star Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj who was dropped from the Indian team after India’s Test series defeat against Australia.
In light of this surprising exclusion of Siraj from the squad, here are two potential reasons why the Indian pace sensation has been left out of the Indian squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Reasons why Mohammed Siraj has been dropped from India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad.
A significant criticism of Siraj has been his inability to fully exploit his bowling potential in the ODI format. His recent record serves to reinforce that concern. For example, in the series, Siraj bowled a total of 157.1 overs, second only to the Australian captain Pat Cummins, who scored 167 pins. However, despite the heavy workload, Siraj conceded 623 runs, the most among the top five wicket-takers in the series. Although the 30-year-old took 20 wickets, his inability to control his run rate eventually proved costly for the team, especially during the Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma hinted at Siraj’s lack of effectiveness at the press conference announcing the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. Siraj was the subject of debate as the media continued to raise questions about the reason for Siraj’s non-participation in the Indian team.
“Mohammad Siraj is not efficient and his efficiency declines as the ball gets older,” Rohit said when asked about Siraj, signaling his ineffectiveness as the main reason why Siraj was dropped from the Indian team.
Also read: India chief coach Ajit Agarkar answers why Karun Nair was not picked in the 2025 Champions Trophy squad.
- Changed dynamics in the Indian team:
Another key reason for Siraj’s exclusion from the Indian team is the selection of several players who are exclusively selected for the ODI format. Arshdeep Singh, who has consistently delivered impressive performances in white-ball cricket, has earned his place in the squad. In addition, the Indian team management has decided to strengthen the spin department by including Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. This strategic decision led to the inclusion of only three traditional pacers in the team. Furthermore, Hardik Pandya He is expected to play a more prominent role as a fast bowling all-rounder and the team is likely to use him for key transitions, especially if the pitch offers favorable conditions for fast bowling.
Also read: BCCI announces India squad for ODIs in England and Champions Trophy 2025, no place for Mohammed Siraj
