Image: Siraj slammed Sharma after being dropped from India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad / © Sportstar - The Hindu
After being excluded from India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad, Mohammed Siraj expressed his disappointment and fired back at skipper Rohit Sharma’s explanation. Rohit had justified Siraj’s omission by claiming that the pacer’s effectiveness drops when he bowls with the old ball, and India needed seam-bowling all-rounders instead. Despite being a key figure in India’s pace attack for three years, Siraj was left out, especially after Jasprit Bumrah’s injury.
Reacting strongly at a pre-IPL press conference, Siraj cited stats to back his old-ball credentials. He claimed:
I have taken the most wickets with the old ball in the past year among the world’s ten fastest bowlers. My economy rate is also low. The numbers speak for themselves. I have performed well with both the new and old ball.
Siraj’s words were a clear dig at Rohit, who had emphasized tactical needs over Siraj’s individual brilliance. The pacer, however, remained calm and focused on his future goals, stating that selections are not in his control and that he’s concentrating on his IPL performance with Gujarat Titans.
With the England tour and Asia Cup also in sight, Siraj vowed to perform and let his bowling speak. He’s currently in fiery form in the Gujarat Titans camp, eager to make a statement in IPL 2025 and stake his claim for future national call-ups.