Mohammed Siraj IN, One Player OUT! Ex-India Opener Names Ideal Squad For Champions Trophy 2025
Photo : ANI
India have selected the squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 on January 18, 2025 and announced it in a press conference attended by Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar. While there were a number of expected names in the squad, there were also players who missed out. One of the major names excluded from the squad was Mohammed Siraj. Former India opener Aakash Chopra was especially not happy with the fast bowler's exclusion from the squad.
India picked only three pacers in the Champions Trophy 2025 squad- Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami. On the other hand India picked three spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, in addition to Kuldeep Yadav.
In a post on his X account, Aakash Chopra expressed concern over the fact that India picked only three pacers, with fitness concerns regarding Shami and Bumrah, and a player with less ODI experience in Arshdeep. He then said that he would have picked Siraj for one of the three spin-bowling all-rounders.
“Picking only three seamers. With two having fitness-related concerns and one who’s not an ODI regular. For a tournament in late Feb/Early March at Dubai. I would’ve picked Siraj for a spinner all-rounder," Chopra wrote
Mohammed Siraj picked up 71 wickets in ODIs since 2022, which is the most by an Indian bowler and third most overall after Adam Zampa and Sandeep Lamicchane. Sharing a screenshot of this statistic, Chopra further emphasized the fact that he should have been picked for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Rohit Sharma Explains Why Mohammed Siraj Had To Miss Out
In the press conference where the squad was announced, Rohit Sharma said that they only wanted three seamers, and Siraj had to miss out because he was not that effective with the new ball.
“We only wanted three seamers. It’s unfortunate he (Siraj) has to miss out. Siraj’s effectiveness comes down when not bowling with the new ball. We have no option but we wanted guys for specific roles. We wanted guys who can bowl with the new ball, and be effective in the middle overs and at the back end. With these three boys (Shami, Harshit and Arshdeep) we can do that," the Indian captain said.
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