After days of anticipation, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar finally revealed India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Yes, the talks have been about Sanju Samson and Karun Nair but the biggest exclusion was obviously Mohammed Siraj. He had a decent ODI World Cup 2023 but was left out considering his “ineffectiveness” with the odd ball. Instead, India have opted to include Arshdeep Singh, a move that might be extremely frugal for the 2013 ODI Champions Trophy champions.
Mohammed Siraj’s workload is screaming for a break
Let’s talk numbers for a moment, because they tell a story that can’t be ignored. Since 2023, Mohammed Siraj has bowled an exhausting 683.5 overs across formats. To put that in perspective, that’s over 120 overs more than what Jasprit Bumrah has bowled in the same period. We’re literally running the man into the ground. His bowling average of 27.89 might not look terrible on paper, but when you realize it ranks him 56th among bowlers with 50+ wickets since 2023, you start to see the cracks forming.
Indian pacers with most balls bowled since 2023 ft. Siraj, Bumrah
| Player | Inns | Balls | Overs | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Siraj | 73 | 4103 | 683.5 | 2901 | 104 | 6/15 | 27.89 | 4.24 | 39.4 |
| Bumrah | 54 | 3361 | 560.1 | 1893 | 124 | 6/45 | 15.26 | 3.37 | 27.1 |
| Shami | 27 | 1485 | 247.3 | 1123 | 56 | 7/57 | 20.05 | 4.53 | 26.5 |
| Pandya | 46 | 1083 | 180.3 | 1197 | 48 | 4/16 | 24.93 | 6.63 | 22.5 |
| Arshdeep | 44 | 1065 | 177.3 | 1322 | 74 | 5/37 | 17.86 | 7.44 | 14.3 |
There is no doubt that Siraj comes up with odd brilliance and is a pacer that likes to give it his all on the field. Take into account his absolute stellar performance at the 2022 Asia Cup Final against Sri Lanka, where he took 6/21. But there are hardly any other performances that make you go gaga over Siraj.
Since 2024, Siraj has been India’s most expensive bowler. Among Indians with at least 40 wickets in the period, Siraj has operated at an economy of 4.10 (across formats), which is the worst. At the same time, his strike rate is also touching 50, ranking him worst again.
Siraj not versatile enough? Rohit himself feels so
Here’s where Rohit Sharma’s candid admission becomes crucial. The skipper didn’t mince words when he pointed out that Siraj’s effectiveness drops significantly when he’s not given the new ball. In the upcoming “mini World Cup”, that’s a luxury India can’t afford. You need bowlers who can step up at any stage of the game, whether it’s the first over or the 45th. With uncertainties around Bumrah’s availability, India need versatile pacers who can adapt to different roles, not specialists who excel in just one phase of the game.
Arshdeep Singh brings what India desperately needs
Enter Arshdeep Singh, fresh from dominating the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT). While some might see this as a risky move, it’s actually a calculated masterstroke. Think about it—he’s a left-arm pacer who adds variety to the attack, he’s fresh, and most importantly, he’s hungry to prove himself on the big stage. At the recent VHT, he ended as the highest wicket-taker in the tournament at an average of 18.25. Hence, he will be in the rhythm of the 50-over format.
The Champions Trophy, split between Pakistan and the UAE, won’t be forgiving to tired legs or one-dimensional bowlers. By choosing Arshdeep over an overworked Siraj, Rohit has opted for a proactive move. While many fans disagree, Arshdeep could gain much more on Dubai decks that help new-ball bowlers. His left-arm angle is a major plus. Sometimes, the best way to strengthen your team is to recognise when a key player needs a break. It’s not that Siraj isn’t capable; sometimes a player might need to be given a break in order to have him bowl at full throttle.
India’s squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh
