We have had 2 ODIs between India and West Indies but not a single one has featured Mohammed Siraj. Additionally, chances have been given to newcomers and inexperienced guys. While this is being perceived as the formation of the perfect XV for the 2027 World Cup, is this also an indication of lack of trust in Siraj?
There is no harm in giving chances to fringe players. But at the same time, experienced ones need to be given a clear message as to how are they being perceived. With no Jasprit Bumrah or Arshdeep Singh in the current squad against West Indies, it is a bit puzzling to leave out the next best experienced pacer in Siraj.
There has not been any official reason given for his non-inclusion, but the generic feeling is that Siraj’s success in Tests has not been that prominent in the white-ball format. He has just played 3 ODIs in 2026, in the home series against New Zealand and the numbers certainly aren’t weird. Is his indifferent performance in the IPL the reason then? 19 wickets in the tournament, at an average of 29.57 and an economy of 9.06 – okay, the average and economy were slightly on the higher side, but wickets? 7th best in the edition – isn’t that good enough?
Conversely, let’s check how the others have fared in his place. Amongst pacers, Gurnoor Brar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Auqib Nabi have been the new ones given opportunities by India. First up, no single player barring Brar has been given enough chances to make an impact. Hence, it is tough to understand on what basis is a player picked or Siraj not picked.
Talking about Siraj overall, there is no doubt that he is a workhorse, constantly seeking improvement. He is known for creating sudden impact, and keep the opposition under check. And with experience, he has channelled himself into a controllable spell, meaning that the economy is always under control even if wickets don’t come by.
Overall, Siraj averages 25.32 in ODIs, with an economy of 5.13. In the past few matches, spinners have been making an impact for India, but that has got to do more with the conditions. Given that the next World Cup is in South Africa, where the pitches can be expected to support both pace and spin, a fast-bowling contingent is necessary.
Perhaps, India are trying to build that contingent, assuming that certain players are a direct walk-in. For example – Jasprit Bumrah. Arshdeep Singh. Prasidh Krishna. Does Siraj also feature in that ‘mindset’?
Delving further, would it be fair to deny Siraj a place despite his experience without enough games, if one of the currently-being-tried youngsters get on a good run? Youngsters give you fresh breath of air. But when a big tournament comes in, it is the experience which stands out. Food for thought.
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