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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently unveiled the Indian squad for the series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With many key players named, the announcement has sparked plenty of debate due to surprising inclusions and notable omissions. Among those commenting on the squad, former wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik has weighed in on the exclusion of star pacer Mohammad Siraj, adding to the growing discussions around the selection decisions.
Dinesh Karthik weighs in on Mohammed Siraj’s omission
Karthik expressed disappointment over Siraj’s exclusion but acknowledged that the decision was fair, highlighting the selection of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Arshdeep Singh, who has been outstanding in white-ball cricket.
“I think it’s sad but fair. Who have they gone for? Bumrah, Shami, and Arshdeep, who has been phenomenal in white-ball cricket,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Karthik on Harshit Rana’s selection over Siraj
Karthik remarked that Siraj’s omission from the Champions Trophy squad could serve as motivation for the pacer to improve and return stronger. He noted that Siraj might feel particularly hurt by Harshit Rana being picked ahead of him in the first few matches of the ODI series against England. However, Karthik emphasized that Siraj has the skills to prove his worth and believes the decision by Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma for the Champions Trophy was fair
“But what would hurt him, I feel, is the fact that Harshit Rana has been picked ahead of him in the first couple of matches in the bilateral against England. Now, this is where Siraj will look and say, Look, I think I deserve better than that, and I am going to do better than that because he has got the skills. But for the moment, for the Champions Trophy, I think it’s a fair decision on Ajit Agarkar and Rohit Sharma’s part,” Karthik added.
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The road ahead: England ODI series and Champions Trophy 2025
The three-match ODI series against England, beginning on February 6 and concluding on February 12. The series will serve as an important preparation phase as India looks to fine-tune their squad and tactics for the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The Champions Trophy is set to be held from February 19 to March 9, 2025, in a hybrid format co-hosted by Pakistan and the UAE.
