Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra opined that Mohammed Siraj could have been included in the Champions Trophy squad. The Hyderabad pacer was left out of the 15-man squad and instead Arshdeep Singh was included. Chopra was surprised with Siraj’s exclusion in the ODI setup, a format in which he has excelled well in the past.
Why no Siraj in CT 2025 squad, asks Chopra
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra said that Siraj did not even feature in the squad despite doing no wrong. He pointed out that India could have opted for one lesser spinner instead. Further, Chopra said that Harshit Rana being considered for ODIs ahead of Siraj was very surprising.
“He hasn’t done so much wrong that he is not even featured in the squad. I feel for DSP. Siraj, I am feeling for you. Siraj could have been picked. There could have been one lesser spinner. Harshit Rana is also ahead in the ODI queue ahead of Siraj, which is very surprising,” Chopra said.
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Further, Chopra took a jibe at the selectors for revealing India’s game plan even before the tournament began. He pointed out that by not naming four pacers in the squad, the team management had played its hand and had subtly conveyed that it would play only two pacers in a match.
“There are just three fast bowlers, and that is big news for me. When you pick three pacers, you will only play 2 fast bowlers. If you wanted to play three seamers, you would have picked four in your squad. It means that you have decided to play three spinners. You have played your hand before anything has even started,” said Chopra.
India’s pace battery comprises of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh while Harshit Rana has been named in the traveling reserves. The four spinners include Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.
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