Former Indian opening batter Navjot Singh Sidhu has questioned the BCCI selection committee’s decision to omit pacer Mohammed Siraj from India's squad for the England ODIs and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Siraj, who became the world's top ODI bowler in September 2023, was left out of the 15-man squad in favor of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.
Arshdeep, who has only played eight ODIs for India, was in top form during the T20 World Cup 2024. He ended up as the tournament's joint-leading wicket-taker and contributed significantly to Team India's title victory.
As per Navjot Singh Sidhu, Indian selectors have preferred all-rounders in the roster, but if he had to pick the team, he would have chosen Siraj.
“Going by India’s squad for the Champions Trophy, it looks like selectors have given importance to the all-rounders. The squad has four quality all-rounders Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. And this team has the ability to stand tall in difficult situations. But if I had to pick the side, I would have played four seamers and three spinners. I would have kept Mohammed Siraj in the squad for sure,” Sidhu told Sports Tak.
Siraj made his India debut in 2019 in ODIs, has played 44 matches, and picked 71 wickets to his name. His best of 6/21 came in the Asia Cup 2023 final, against Sri Lanka.
Sidhu, who has assumed the roles of expert and commentator, also revealed why Siraj was not chosen for the ICC Champions Trophy, in which India would play all of its matches in Dubai.
“Reason being, the last time when we carried four spinners in West Indies, you left aside one of them (Yuzvendra Chahal) and didn’t give him a game. But if you look at Sharjah and Dubai conditions, spinners are not that effective there. A little bit here and there, but overall I see a good balance on the side,” Sidhu concluded.
India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
