Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised concerns over Mohammed Siraj being left out of India’s white-ball teams. He feels Siraj is slowly being turned into a one-format player. According to him, the pacer is being used mainly in Test cricket. Chopra said this is surprising because Siraj has proved himself in all formats.
Siraj has been a regular part of India’s red-ball attack. However, his appearances in ODIs and T20Is have gone down in recent times. He was picked for the ODI series against Australia. Even though he did not take many wickets, he bowled tight spells. He also maintained a very good economy rate. Chopra said such performances clearly show his value in limited-overs cricket.
“You keep wondering why we don’t see Mohammed Siraj in the ODI setup. Not in ODIs or T20Is. They’ve made him pack his bags and made him only a one-format player. Why are we doing this? I don’t know, and I am a little surprised,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Many fans also share Chopra’s views. They believe Siraj is being underused. In the past, Siraj was known for swinging the new ball. He also extracted bounce from flat pitches. He bowled with aggression in the middle overs. One of his best moments came in the Asia Cup 2023 final. He ripped through Sri Lanka with a seven-wicket spell. That performance is still remembered as one of the finest ODI spells in recent years.
“Selectors Rotating Pacers, But Questions Remain” – Aakash Chopra
In recent months, the Indian selectors have focused on rotating fast bowlers. Senior bowlers like Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah have often been rested. Young pacers such as Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna have been given chances. While this helps build bench strength, the team has struggled in difficult conditions, especially in dew-affected matches at home.
Chopra feels a bowler of Siraj’s quality should not be limited to one format without proper clarity. With major ICC tournaments coming up, his comments have once again started a debate. Many now feel Siraj deserves a regular role across formats.
