The journey of Mohammed Siraj in worldwide cricket has been full of ups and downs, however the quick bowler has constantly discovered a approach to bounce again stronger. Over the previous few years, Siraj has established himself as one among India’s most reliable tempo bowlers throughout codecs, delivering match-winning performances each at house and abroad. Regardless of his success, there was a section when many seen him primarily as a Take a look at specialist, with questions raised about his effectiveness in white-ball cricket.
Nevertheless, Siraj has labored onerous to alter that notion by constant performances in franchise cricket and on the worldwide stage. His spectacular shows for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) within the IPL, coupled with sturdy performances for India every time alternatives got here his approach, have helped him regain his place within the nationwide setup. Former India batter Aakash Chopra believes the criticism directed at Siraj throughout that interval was untimely and unfair.
Aakash Chopra on Mohammed Siraj being labelled a one-format participant
Talking in a video shared on his social media account, Chopra mirrored on Siraj’s profession trajectory and identified how rapidly the pacer was categorized as a bowler suited just for Take a look at cricket. In keeping with Chopra, Siraj was written off within the shorter codecs regardless of possessing the abilities required to succeed throughout all types of the sport. He famous that the Hyderabad pacer spent a protracted interval out of favour earlier than making a profitable return to India’s T20 plans by sturdy performances.
“Bahut jaldi humne unko one-format participant bana ke choad diya. It was prematurely determined that he couldn’t bowl with the older ball and needs to be dropped. He was out of favor for a very long time, however his destiny modified, and he was picked for the T20 World Cup, the place he picked up three wickets in his first match, and now he’s again once more within the T20 reckoning,” Chopra stated.
The previous opener highlighted that Siraj’s resurgence is a testomony to his perseverance and skill to adapt his recreation. His performances in IPL 2026 and the T20 World Cup helped silence many critics who had questioned his effectiveness in limited-overs cricket.
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Chopra questions Siraj’s exclusion from India’s ODI plans
Chopra additionally expressed his disappointment over the best way Siraj was dealt with throughout a selected section of his worldwide profession. He felt the pacer carried a heavy workload in Take a look at cricket however was abruptly sidelined from India’s white-ball plans regardless of sustaining sturdy performances.
The cricketer-turned-commentator particularly pointed to Siraj’s omission from India’s squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy, describing it as a choice he disagreed with. Whereas Chopra acknowledged that there may very well be debates concerning Siraj’s place within the T20I setup, he insisted the quick bowler’s ODI credentials have been past query.
“There was a interval once I genuinely felt that it was not proper. You performed him in all Exams, the place everybody wants workload administration, however didn’t take into consideration him. Then, abruptly someday, you stated he was not a part of the ODI group, after which he was faraway from T20Is as effectively; that was not proper,” Chopra said.
Siraj has been rested for India’s ongoing ODI sequence towards Afghanistan, with Prasidh Krishna named as his alternative. Nevertheless, the quick bowler is anticipated to return to worldwide motion throughout the upcoming T20I sequence towards Eire later this month, the place he could have one other alternative to strengthen his case throughout codecs.
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