Why Mohammed Siraj was not picked in India’s ODI squad for England series

India announced their squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England on Sunday, but one notable name was missing from the list.

Senior fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who has been a regular feature in India’s white-ball setup over the last few years, was not included in the squad selected by the BCCI Selection Committee.

The omission has surprised many fans, especially considering Siraj’s experience in English conditions and his role in India’s ODI plans in recent years. While the BCCI has not officially revealed the exact reason behind the decision, there are a couple of factors that may have influenced the selectors’ call.

Mohammed Siraj snubbed from India ODI squad for England series

The BCCI on Sunday announced India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against England, with Shubman Gill set to lead the side. Senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were included in the squad alongside KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav.

However, the biggest talking point from the announcement was the absence of Mohammed Siraj.

The Hyderabad pacer, who has been a regular member of India’s white-ball setup in recent years, failed to make the cut as the selectors opted for Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar as their pace-bowling options for the England tour.

Mohammed Siraj’s omission has come as a surprise for many fans, given his experience in English conditions and his status as one of India’s senior fast bowlers. His absence becomes even more notable considering India have picked a full-strength ODI squad for the important series.

Mohammed Siraj withdrawn from India’s squads for the T20I series against Ireland and England

Siraj’s omission from the ODI squad comes shortly after he was withdrawn from India’s T20I squads for the Ireland and England series.

According to an official BCCI statement, the fast bowler was advised to take rest as part of his workload management programme.

“Following discussions between the BCCI Medical Team and the Team Management, Siraj has been advised a period of rest as part of his workload management programme. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure adequate recovery ahead of a long international season.”

The Men’s Selection Committee subsequently named Prasidh Krishna as Mohammed Siraj’s replacement for both T20I series.

The decision suggested that the team management was keen to carefully manage Mohammed Siraj’s workload ahead of a packed international calendar.

Why Mohammed Siraj was not picked in India’s ODI squad for England series?

While the BCCI has not issued an official explanation regarding Siraj’s ODI omission, two factors may have contributed to the decision.

The first is workload management. Siraj was already withdrawn from the Ireland and England T20I squads as part of a rest programme. With India set to play a lengthy international season, the selectors may have decided to extend that break and keep him fresh for the upcoming Test assignments.

The second factor could be his ODI form since the start of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Statistics show that Siraj has struggled to produce consistent returns during this period.

Since the beginning of the 2023 ODI World Cup, Siraj has played 20 ODIs, picking up 22 wickets at an average of 38.36. While he has produced a few strong performances, his overall numbers are significantly below his career ODI average of 25.32.

With Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar performing well in recent opportunities, the selectors may have felt it was the right time to explore alternative pace options while giving Siraj an extended break ahead of the crucial Test season.