"If that's the case, why is he playing domestic cricket?" - Aakash Chopra questions Team India star's non-selection amid IND vs SA 2025 ODIs

Former India player Aakash Chopra has questioned why Mohammed Siraj isn't being picked in the Men in Blue's white-ball squads. While observing that workload management is cited as the reason at times, he wondered why the seamer is playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in that case.

Siraj isn't part of India's squad for the ongoing ODI series against South Africa. The right-arm seamer hasn't been picked for the subsequent five-match T20I series against the same opponents either.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener wondered why Siraj isn't being considered for ODIs and T20Is, highlighting that workload management cannot be the reason.

"What has happened with Miyan Magic? He used to be a three-format player earlier. He used to play ODIs, T20Is, and Tests. In fact, in ODIs, there was a two-year period when no one took more wickets than him for India. He was constantly picking up wickets. We were saying he is in a different league altogether," Chopra said. (6:40)

"However, after that, he was suddenly dropped from the Champions Trophy team. Rohit Sharma was the captain then, and the captain said his effectiveness reduces with the old ball. The consolation of workload management is given at times. However, if that's the case, why is he playing domestic cricket? If he doesn't play the other formats, he will next play for India in August," he added.

Mohammed Siraj has picked up 73 wickets at an economy rate of 5.17 in 46 ODI innings. He has accounted for 14 dismissals at an economy rate of 7.79 in 16 T20I innings.

---

"You are giving opportunities to everyone else" - Aakash Chopra on the likes of Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana playing ahead of Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj has played only six ODIs since the 2023 World Cup final. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that the likes of Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana are being given opportunities ahead of Mohammed Siraj.

"When did it happen that Mohammed Siraj, suddenly, from a three-format bowler, became a one-format bowler? No one is talking about it. No one is questioning. Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana have played. You are giving opportunities to everyone else. Suddenly, from where is Mohammed Siraj's workload management being spoken about?" he said. (7:45)

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Hyderabad seamer should be picked in ODIs at least, if not in T20Is.

"What kind of workload is this? You are not going to play any cricket for the next 10 months. How did Mohammed Siraj disappear? Mohammed Siraj, minimum, has to be there in ODIs. You can consider him for T20Is as well, but he has to be there in ODIs," Chopra observed.

To conclude, Aakash Chopra recalled Mohammed Siraj's match-winning spell of 6/21 in the 2023 Asia Cup final. While expressing surprise about the seamer's non-selection, the analyst hoped that the reason behind the decision would have been communicated to him.