"His bags have been packed" - Aakash Chopra questions star seamer's non-selection after IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

Former India player Aakash Chopra has noted that the Men in Blue's bowling was found wanting in the second ODI against South Africa. He wondered why Mohammed Siraj is not being considered for selection in white-ball cricket.

India set South Africa a 359-run target in the second ODI in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3. The visitors achieved the target with four wickets and as many balls to spare, drawing parity in the three-match series.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener noted that Arshdeep Singh (2/54 in 10 overs) was the only bowler to perform well in the second ODI and questioned why Siraj has been ignored.

"In bowling, Arshdeep was good, but the rest were nothing to write home about. Then you keep wondering why they are not seeing Mohammed Siraj in the ODI setup again. He is neither in ODIs nor in T20Is," Chopra said.

"His bags have been packed. Siraj has been made just a one-format player. Why are we doing that? I don't know. I am a little surprised. Why is this happening? It's just a question I ask," he added.

Mohammed Siraj has picked up 73 wickets at an economy rate of 5.17 in 47 ODIs. He played all three ODIs in India's recent white-ball tour of Australia, but wasn't picked for the ongoing series against South Africa.

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"Prasidh Krishna's numbers need to be deep-dived into a little more" - Aakash Chopra on seamer's expensive spell in IND vs SA 2025 2nd ODI

Prasidh Krishna conceded 85 runs in 8.2 overs in the second ODI against South Africa. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that while Prasidh Krishna (2/85 in 8.2 overs) proved expensive once again, Washington Sundar (1 run off 8 balls and 0/28 in four overs) didn't play a major role with bat or ball.

"Prasidh Krishna was so expensive. In fact, Prasidh Krishna's numbers need to be deep-dived into a little more. He is very, very, very expensive at times. Washi didn't have any role left because you pushed him down in batting and he got out. You gave him only four overs," he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that India's inability to make the most of the last 10 overs with the bat, along with their extremely ordinary fielding, also contributed to their defeat.

"My mind went to the last 10 overs, where it seemed like you could have reached 400, but you left runs on the ground. Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) played well in the last match, but was a run-a-ball here. In fact, his partnership with (KL) Rahul was at a run-a-ball. You scored nearly 360, but 400 should have been scored," Chopra observed.

Ravindra Jadeja consumed 27 deliveries for his unbeaten 24. Although KL Rahul's unbeaten 66 came off just 43 balls, only 69 runs were scored during his partnership with Jadeja in the final nine overs.