Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra questioned India’s decision-making around Mohammed Siraj after the fast bowler was once again missing from the country’s white-ball plans. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former India opener said he was “surprised” that Siraj has effectively become a bowler used only in Test cricket despite proving himself across formats.
Siraj, one of India’s leading red-ball performers in recent years, has seen limited involvement in both ODIs and T20Is. He was part of the recent ODI series against Australia and, although he did not pick up many wickets, he impressed with tight spells, maintaining an economy rate between 4 and 6 runs per over. The performances suggested he still has the control and skill to contribute meaningfully in white-ball cricket.
“You keep wondering why we don’t see Mohammed Siraj in the ODI setup. Not in ODIs or T20Is. They’ve made him pack his bags and made him only a one-format player. Why are we doing this? I don’t know, and I am a little surprised,” Aakash Chopra said.
Chopra’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment among fans who feel India may be underutilising one of its most versatile seamers. Siraj’s ability to swing the new ball, extract bounce, and bowl aggressively in the middle overs once made him a key option in limited-overs cricket. His performances in the Asia Cup 2023 final, where he demolished Sri Lanka with a seven-wicket burst, remain among the most dominant ODI spells in recent years.
Despite these credentials, India’s selectors have prioritised a rotation of pace options, with the likes of Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah not being involved to give game time to Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna. While the youngsters do need some games under their belt, the Indian bowlers have struggled to navigate the difficult, dewy conditions in India.
Chopra suggested that a bowler of Siraj’s quality should not be limited to a single format without transparent reasoning.
With India heading into a busy cricket calendar featuring major ICC tournaments, Chopra’s comments are likely to revive debate over how the national team manages its fast-bowling depth and whether Siraj deserves a more sustained role across formats.
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