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The Indian squad for the Champions Trophy 2025 is finally out with some standout inclusions in the team such as Yashasvi Jaiswal, earning his maiden call up for the Indian team in ODI format, Arshdeep Singh being picked once again for India in white-ball cricket, and Kuldeep Yadav featuring in the squads after being out of the team due to a groin injury.
However, while there are many surprising inclusions, a number of players have not been given a place in the squad. The most prominent among such players is star Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj who has been dropped from the Indian team after India’s Test series defeat against Australia.
In the light of this surprising exclusion of Siraj from the squad here are two potential reasons as to why the Indian pace sensation has been excluded from the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Reasons why Mohammed Siraj was excluded from the Indian team for the Champions Trophy 2025
- Lack of effectiveness:
A significant criticism of Siraj has been his inability to fully capitalize on his bowling potential in the ODI format. His recent record serves to reinforce this concern. For instance, in the series, Siraj bowled a total of 157.1 overs, second only to Australian captain Pat Cummins, who bowled 167 overs. However, despite his considerable workload, Siraj conceded 623 runs, the highest among the top five wicket-takers in the series. While the 30-year-old claimed 20 wickets, his inability to control his run rate ultimately proved costly for the team, particularly during the Test matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma hinted towards Siraj’s lack of effectiveness in the press-conference which announced the Indian squad for the Champions Trophy 2025. Siraj was a point of discussion as the media persons kept on asking the reason behind Siraj’s non-involvement in the Indian team.
“Mohammad Siraj is not effective and his effectiveness come down when the ball gets older,” Rohit said when asked about Siraj, signalling his lack of effectiveness as the foremost reason behind Siraj being dropped from the Indian team.
Also Read: India’s chief selector Ajit Agarkar answers why Karun Nair hasn’t been picked in the squad for Champions Trophy 2025
- The changed dynamics in the Indian team:
Another key reason for Siraj’s exclusion from the Indian squad is the selection of several players who are exclusively picked for the ODI format. Arshdeep Singh, who has consistently delivered impressive performances in white-ball cricket, has earned his place in the squad. Additionally, the Indian team management has opted to strengthen the spin department with the inclusion of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. This strategic decision has led to the inclusion of only three traditional pacers in the squad. Furthermore, Hardik Pandya is expected to play a more prominent role as a fast-bowling all-rounder, with the team likely to utilize him for crucial transition overs, particularly if the pitch offers favorable conditions for pace bowling.
