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India's star speedster Mohammed Siraj was unexpectedly dropped from the India's squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025, which is set to start from February 20 in Pakistan and Dubai. Mohammed Siraj's absence left many surprised and perplexed. Meanwhile, the star pacer shared a cryptic post on his official Instagram account which is going viral on social media.
Mohammed Siraj's cryptic post after Champions Trophy snub
India's chief selector Ajit Agarkar along with captain Rohit Sharma via press conference announced India's 15-member Champions Trophy squad on January 18.
While the core of the team largely resembles the squad that competed in the 2023 World Cup, Siraj's absence is a notable change. He has been a prominent figure in India's One Day International (ODI) lineup in recent years, consistently delivering impactful and match-winning performances.
Following his exclusion from the Indian squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, Mohammed Siraj shared a post on social media, igniting discussions among cricket experts. On Monday, January 20th, the 30-year-old pacer took to his Instagram story, posting a picture from the gym accompanied by the caption 'reset, restart, refocus'.
Siraj boasts an impressive track record in ODIs, having claimed 71 wickets in just 44 appearances. He played a pivotal role in India's triumphant Asia Cup 2023 campaign, delivering a match-winning performance in the final against Sri Lanka with career-best figures of 6/21. This strong form continued into the ODI World Cup on home soil, where he contributed significantly with 14 wickets, helping India reach the final.
Despite leading the pace attack in the absence of key bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and the recently returned Mohammed Shami, Siraj has surprisingly been overlooked for the Champions Trophy squad. He has been replaced by left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has limited ODI experience with only eight matches under his belt. This decision has raised eyebrows among cricket experts and fans alike.
Siraj will also be absent from the upcoming ODI series against England, which precedes the Champions Trophy. His most recent appearance for India was during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he claimed an impressive 20 wickets. This performance placed him as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in the series, trailing only Jasprit Bumrah (32 wickets), and the fourth-highest overall.
Harshit Rana has been included in the Indian ODI squad for the England series as a backup for Jasprit Bumrah. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has stated that Bumrah's inclusion in the playing XI will depend on his fitness. Notably, Siraj has been omitted from the squad, with India opting for Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh as the other pacers. Siraj previously held the top spot in the ICC ODI Rankings from September 20 to November 14, 2023.
India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja
India’s squad for ODI series against England
Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja
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