Mohammad Siraj was the last Indian bowler to be ranked number one in the ODI format. He is currently ranked number eight in the world in ODIs. However, he is not in India’s Champions Trophy squad! Instead, Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami have been named to the team. Unfortunately, the fact is that neither of them is in the top 10 of the ODI rankings.
Siraj has taken 71 wickets in ODIs at an average of 22.97 in the last three years. No bowler in the world has taken more wickets than him during this period. During this time, he took six wickets for 21 runs in the Asia Cup final, defeating Sri Lanka and securing the title for India. Despite all this, the exclusion of Siraj from the 15-man squad has sparked a storm of discussion and criticism on social media.
Why is Siraj not included? In response to this question, India captain Rohit Sharma said, “Siraj is no longer as effective as before; his edge decreases even more when the ball gets old.”
There is nothing wrong with the captain’s answer. Siraj (Mohammad Siraj) should be dropped as soon as the powerplay is over. He is no longer able to deliver in the death-overs like before. India played only three ODIs in 2024, and Siraj could manage just three wickets in those three matches. He also had a lacklustre performance in the last ODI World Cup played on home soil.
Rohit Sharma explained the decision to omit Mohammed Siraj from the squad for the Champions Trophy.#CT25 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/oa1P1dzO96
— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) January 18, 2025
Siraj’s ODI and Test Performance in 2024
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Siraj (Mohammad Siraj) took 14 wickets in 11 matches, but his average was poor at 33.50. He has also struggled with rhythm in recent Test series. In 2024, Siraj took 35 wickets in 25 innings at an average of over 30 in Tests, with a disappointing strike rate of over 50.
Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Shami’s Importance
On the other hand, Arshdeep Singh, who secured a place ahead of Siraj, was one of the heroes of India’s T20 World Cup victory in 2024. Mohammed Shami, after returning from injury, was a standout performer in the 2023 ODI World Cup and has since proven his skills in domestic cricket. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah’s place is firmly secured. As a result, Siraj had to be left out of the squad, with stiff competition from these emerging talents.
But the question remains: If Siraj (Mohammad Siraj) is dropped due to his current poor performance and decreased effectiveness, why are Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli still in the team? Both have been out of form for a long time.
In this scenario, perhaps they are only included in the Champions Trophy squad because of their names. The wait for regular performers from the domestic league has become even longer. Rohit and Kohli now get another opportunity to showcase their skills on the big stage.