{"id":218332,"date":"2025-01-18T11:10:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-18T11:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/18\/india-squad-for-champions-trophy-why-was-mohammed-siraj-dropped-captain-rohit-sharma-explains-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2025-01-18T11:10:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T11:10:04","slug":"india-squad-for-champions-trophy-why-was-mohammed-siraj-dropped-captain-rohit-sharma-explains-cricket-news-the-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/18\/india-squad-for-champions-trophy-why-was-mohammed-siraj-dropped-captain-rohit-sharma-explains-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"India squad for Champions Trophy: Why was Mohammed Siraj dropped? Captain Rohit Sharma explains | Cricket News – The Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mohammed Siraj (Photo by Pankaj Nangia\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

NEW DELHI: India\u2019s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy<\/a>, scheduled to begin on February 19 in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, and for three-match ODI series against England was announced on Saturday.
One of the major debating points was the omission of right-arm seamer Mohammed Siraj<\/a>. Despite being a regular in India\u2019s recent campaigns, Siraj has been left out of the 15-member squad, which includes Yashasvi Jaiswal<\/a> earning his maiden ODI call-up.
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Captain Rohit Sharma<\/a> explained the decision, citing the team\u2019s need for specific skill sets in the bowling department.
“We only wanted three seamers. It\u2019s unfortunate that Siraj has to miss out. His effectiveness comes down when he\u2019s not bowling with the new ball. We prioritised bowlers who can deliver with the new ball, be effective in the middle overs, and at the back end. With Jasprit Bumrah<\/a>, Mohammed Shami<\/a> and Arshdeep Singh<\/a>, we believe we have the right balance,” Rohit said, in a presser to announce the squad in Mumbai.
Adding to the intrigue, chief selector Ajit Agarkar<\/a> revealed uncertainty around Jasprit Bumrah\u2019s fitness, with the pacer potentially unavailable for the first two ODIs of the preceding England series. Harshit Rana has been named as a temporary replacement.
“We\u2019re awaiting updates on Jasprit Bumrah\u2019s fitness from the BCCI medical team, expected in early February,” Agarkar stated.
Rohit reiterated the selection focus on versatility: “With Bumrah\u2019s status unclear, we needed bowlers who can perform across phases. Unfortunately, Siraj is more dependent on the new ball, which limits our options.”
Siraj\u2019s exclusion, alongside that of Sanju Samson, has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts, given Siraj\u2019s consistent performances for India. The decision underscores India\u2019s intent to focus on specific roles as they aim for success in the upcoming Champions Trophy.<\/p>\n

India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy & England ODIs
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Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
* Harshit Rana has been chosen for the ODI series against England, with Bumrah’s fitness concerns in mind.<\/div>\n