Aakash Chopra, a former Indian cricket player, has questioned the selectors’ choice to exclude Mohammed Siraj from India’s white-ball teams. Despite having demonstrated his versatility, Aakash Chopra said that Siraj is increasingly being viewed as a one-format player, mostly for Test matches. The pacer appears to have been shelved in limited-overs cricket without a compelling reason, he continued.
Although Siraj has been a vital part of India’s red-ball attack, he has made less appearances in ODIs and T20Is. He played in the ODI series against Australia, where he produced controlled periods and kept up a strong economy rate despite not taking many wickets. Aakash Chopra emphasised that Siraj’s skill and worth in white-ball cricket are further confirmed by performances such as these.
“You never stop asking why Mohammed Siraj isn’t included in the ODI lineup. Not in T20Is or ODIs. He is now a one-format player and has been forced to pack up his belongings.
What are we doing? I’m not sure, and I’m a little taken aback,” Aakash Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.
Fans’ rising belief that India may be underutilising one of its most flexible seamers is reflected in Chopra’s comments. Siraj used to be a crucial option in limited-overs cricket because of his ability to swing the new ball, extract bounce, and bowl with consistent intensity in the middle overs. One of the most dominant ODI periods in recent memory was his incredible performance in the Asia Cup 2023 final, where he destroyed Sri Lanka with a seven-wicket blitz.
Notwithstanding these qualifications, the Indian selectors have recently placed a higher priority on varying their pace attack, frequently resting seasoned bowlers like Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah to give up-and-coming quicks like Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna more opportunities. While exposing young bowlers to international cricket is crucial, the Indian attack has also found it difficult to handle difficult, dew-heavy conditions at home.
A bowler of Siraj’s calibre shouldn’t be limited to a particular format without effective explanation or justification, according to Aakash Chopra. His remarks are expected to rekindle discussion over how the team management should manage its fast-bowling resources and if Siraj deserves a more consistent position across formats as India approaches a busy cricket schedule that includes important ICC championships.
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