Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu questioned the exclusion of Mohammed Siraj from India’s 15-man squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025. India’s pace spearhead was surprisingly left out in favor of left-seamer Arshdeep Singh for the mega event.
Analyzing India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad, Navjot Singh Sidhu believes that the national selectors have picked the perfect squad that has the ability to face any challenge in all conditions in the upcoming prestigious 50+ tournament.
Navjot Singh Sidhu criticizes Mohammed Siraj’s omission from India’s 2025 ICC Champions Trophy squad.
The noted commentator also highlighted the Indian selectors’ preference for all-rounders, highlighting the inclusion of quality all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
However, Navjot Singh Sidhu admitted that the selectors have picked a strong team but is disappointed with their decision to overlook Mohammed Siraj. Sidhu emphasized that he would opt for four seamers and three spinners to balance the CT 2025 squad.
Navjot Singh Sidhu was quoted in Sports Tak, “Looking at the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy, the selectors seem to have given importance to all-rounders. The team has four quality all-rounders in Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. And this team has the ability to stand up in difficult situations. But if I had to choose a side, I would play four seamers and three spinners. I would definitely keep Mohammed Siraj in the team.”
Sidhu also explained why he believes Mohammed Siraj should have been included in India’s squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025. He noted that India had selected four spinners for the 2024 T20 World Cup, but Yuzvendra Chahal was not given a game, and there they missed an opportunity. to have a player suited to Caribbean conditions.
The former Indian cricketer believes that spinners are not as effective in Dubai as they are elsewhere, so it would be a great call to have extra players in the form of Siraj for the prestigious tournament. However, he still feels that India have a good, balanced squad for the Champions Trophy.
Navjot Singh Sidhu explains why Siraj should have been selected for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
Sidhu signed off by saying, “The reason is that the last time we carried four spinners in the West Indies, you sidelined one of them (Yuzvendra Chahal) and didn’t give him a game. But if you look at the conditions in Sharjah and Dubai, the spinners are not that effective there. A little bit here and there, but overall, I see a good balance in the side.”
Notably, Arshdeep Singh has played only 8 ODI matches so far, while Mohammed Siraj has 71 wickets in just 44 ODI appearances, and has been one of India’s key players in recent years. He played a key role in India’s victory in the 2023 Asia Cup, posting a career-best performance of 6/21 in the final against Sri Lanka.
Siraj then helped India reach the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil, where he scalped an impressive 14 wickets. The fiery pacer was in good form on the recent tour of Australia as well.
