Mohammed Siraj reveals why he wasn’t picked in Indian squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj opened up about not being picked for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and stated that the need for more spinners in Dubai led to the decision. He had come off a very hard-working Australia series and was left on the sidelines as India won two major tournaments.

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Most recently, he was snubbed from the Indian T20I team for the recent Asia Cup 2025 tournament, which India won by defeating Pakistan in the final. But before this, Siraj was also left out of the Indian squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which was also played in Dubai and India won by defeating New Zealand in the final.

Siraj stated that there were no hard feelings over the omissions, just transparency and communication from Captain Rohit Sharma and the management.

“I’m 200 percent confident of doing well in all three formats when given a chance. We played the Champions Trophy in Dubai; there was heat, and we needed more spinners there. That’s why I wasn’t picked. Rohit (Sharma) bhai told me that most of the bowling would be done by spinners, and he didn’t want me to go there and just sit on the bench. He told me to spend time with family, practice, and work on my fitness,” Siraj said in a chat with Indian Express.

Then, speaking on the Asia Cup snub, he stated that the tournament, played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, was played right after the five-Test series in England, and hence he was rested from the T20 tournament.

“The Asia Cup was right after we had returned from the five tests in England, so it was an opportunity to rest a bit,” he added, explaining how the decision was as much about workload as it was about team balance.

Mohammed Siraj recently took seven wickets in the first test of the two-match series between India and the West Indies. This match was played in Ahmedabad, and India won by an innings and 140 runs.

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