Star India National cricket team fast bowler Mohammad Siraj has finally opened its snub from the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which was played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan.
Mohammad Siraj revealed a conversation with Rohit Sharma and said that the need for additional spinners in Dubai gave birth to his exclusion, and was asked to spend time with his family.
He asked me to spend time with family – Mohammad Siraj
The BCCI Selection Committee selected three experts in the India team for ICC Champions Trophy 2025 – Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
Despite his good performance in the format, there was no place for the premiere Pacer Mohammad Sirj in the setup. India followed a spin -spinned strategy as five spinners in the competition – Axer Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Varun Chakraborty – were part of the squad.
All the steps made by the selection committee and the team management paid as India as India managed to lift the trophy by defeating New Zealand in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Speaking at the Idea Exchange of the Indian Express, Mohammad Sirj was asked about his ICC Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup 2025 Snow and is he being seen as a test specialist.
Reacting to this, Siraj said that he is fully prepared to play all three formats for India, and was due to his absence conditions and charge management from the ICC Champions Trophy and Asia Cup. He said:
“When I was given an opportunity, I am 200 percent assured to perform well in all three formats. We played the Champions Trophy in Dubai, and we needed more spinners there, so I was not raised. Rohit (Sharma) Bhai told me that most of the bowlers would be done by spinners and they did not want me to go there.
“They asked me to spend time to work on family, practice, and my fitness. The Asia Cup was correct after returning from five trials in England, so it was an opportunity to rest a little.”
Yes, 100 percent I felt pressure – Mohammad Siraj
Mohammad Siraj further admitted that he felt pressure to watch India vs Pakistan matches in the Asia Cup 2025, as due to all the disputes around it. He said:
“Yes, 100 percent I felt pressure (to see India vs Pakistan). When you are representing the country, the match ends and you return to the dressing room, you can’t even celebrate victory … There is a lot of pressure, but you have to follow government rules.”
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I do not like just attitude and ego – Mohammad Sirj
During the same chat, Mohammad Sirj said that he has not allowed fame to be affected, and he tries to stay humble and down-to-back. He said:
“Keeping in mind where I come from and where I have reached, I just do not like attitude and ego. I try to stay down-to-a-back. I have the same set of friends that I used to return during the day.
“I still roam with him. It’s not that I have become an India player now, so I will make new friends and walk with him in a range rover. I have a range rover and I drive around, but I still go to places where I played tennis ball cricket with my old friends as a child.”
Siraj will be seen in action next time during India Tour of Australia 2025 as he has been selected in the ODI team.
