The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is almost here, and the Indian squad for the tournament has been announced. One of the big talking points is the exclusion of fast bowler Mohammed Siraj from the squad. Rohit Sharma, the captain of the Indian team, has shared the reason behind this decision. Let’s take a closer look at what led to Siraj’s absence.
India’s Squad Announcement for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025
On January 18th, 2025, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revealed the 15-member squad for India’s upcoming ODI series against England and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. India’s squad has largely stayed the same as the team that reached the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, but there are a few changes worth noting.
Key Inclusions and Exclusions
Among the key updates, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal received his first call-up to the ODI team. Additionally, Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav made their returns after recovering from injuries. Jasprit Bumrah was also named in the squad, although his inclusion is “subject to fitness.”
However, the biggest surprise was the exclusion of Mohammed Siraj. Siraj has been one of India’s top fast bowlers, playing an important role in ODIs and Test matches, particularly when key bowlers like Shami and Bumrah were unavailable. He had a strong run in the Test series, including matches against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia.
Rohit Sharma’s Explanation for Siraj’s Exclusion
After the squad announcement, Rohit Sharma explained why Siraj was left out of the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. According to the Indian captain, the team management decided to select only three seamers for the tournament.
Focus on Seamers’ Roles
Rohit emphasized that the team needed fast bowlers who could perform well in every phase of the game. He pointed out that Siraj tends to be less effective when bowling with the old ball. The team needed bowlers who could excel both in the initial overs and during the middle and death overs.
“We only wanted three seamers. Unfortunately, Siraj had to miss out,” Rohit said. He added, “Siraj’s effectiveness comes down when not bowling with the new ball. We have no option but we wanted guys for specific roles.”
The Selection of Shami, Bumrah, and Arshdeep
Rohit went on to explain that Shami, Bumrah, and Arshdeep were chosen because they offer the versatility that the team needed. These three bowlers can be effective in all stages of the innings, from the new ball to the death overs.
“We wanted guys who can bowl with the new ball, be effective in the middle overs, and at the back end. With these three boys (Shami, Bumrah, and Arshdeep), we can do that,” Rohit added.
India Squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Batsmen:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shreyas Iyer
Wicketkeeper-Batsmen:
- KL Rahul
- Rishabh Pant
All-Rounders:
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Washington Sundar
Bowlers:
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammad Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Kuldeep Yadav