Published on: Nov 13, 2026 1:03 pm IST|Updated on: Nov 13, 2026 1:03 pm IST
The treatment Mohammed Siraj has been getting from the team management is indefensible. One of the senior pacers in the squad, Siraj, has been getting ignored every now and then, as if he doesn’t even exist. Talking about the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, the 32-year-old couldn’t feature in the first ODI despite being in the squad, as he was involved in the India A tour game against New Zealand A.
Apart from missing the first ODI, Siraj was available for all of the remaining games. However, even after four of the five ODIs, Siraj is yet to feature in the series. Instead, India has deployed four specialist seamers across the four games, including Arshdeep Singh, Aaqib Nabi, Anshul Kamboj, and Gurnoor Brar.
This question has blown every cricket fan’s mind: why Mohammed Siraj isn’t getting a chance in the playing eleven in ODI cricket? He is still a regular face in the Test XI, but why isn’t he being considered in ODIs, especially when Bumrah isn’t available and India needs experienced personnel on away tours?
Well, the answer lies with the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who has ignored the Hyderabad-born pacer on a regular basis. Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, Siraj has played only 10 ODIs and claimed just 9 wickets at a poor average of 47.44. Yes, his ODI form has taken a dip since the 2023 ODI World Cup, and his amazing spell of 6 21 in just 7 overs in the 2023 Asia Cup Final against Sri Lanka has also been forgotten.
Gambhir has always weighed in on building a pace attack for the future, with youngsters getting maximum chances ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. He is preparing a blueprint for the mega event in his mind, and it seems like Mohammed Suraj isn’t a part of that blueprint. Siraj was expected to feature in the ongoing fourth ODI against New Zealand, particularly when Anshul Kamboj was released from the squad to prepare for the upcoming 2-match Test series.
However, despite replacing a pacer with another experienced pacer in Siraj, Gautam Gambhir had other plans. The head coach opted for the left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, clearing his stance of not playing Siraj even when he had a choice.
Many former cricketers have voiced their opinion on the way Mohammed Siraj is being treated by the team management. Ex-left-arm spinner Murali Kartik was utterly disappointed with Siraj’s exclusion from the ongoing fourth ODI against New Zealand and, at the same time, was optimistic for the pacer to get a chance in the future.
“I don’t understand it, but it is how the team sees him. We can sit here and feel for him. I don’t know whether he was at his best in the hot and humid conditions in Sri Lanka, but post that, he has not been needed in the playing XI. I hope Siraj gets a gig because he is a whole-hearted cricketer,” Kartik said.
Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik analyzed Siraj’s exclusion by putting up some facts.
“The sad part of that XI is Mohammed Siraj. I think he has not made the cut purely because of two things: How well Arshdeep and Gurnoor have bowled, and India do want to bat till No.8. I think they feel Aaqib Nabi is someone who can give them something with the bat at No.8 and hence he makes the cut,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
Karthik also had no hesitation in saying that, at this point of time, Siraj is not in India’s plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
“At this point of time, he is not on the top of the pile for the 2027 World Cup. I think there are a couple of bowlers who are ahead of him. This is from the Indian team’s perspective, personally it’s different,” he further added.
With one more ODI left in the ongoing 5-match series against New Zealand, the 32-year-old pacer would be hoping to play his 52nd ODI at the Bay Oval. If not, he will head into the two-match Test series without playing even a single game on the India tour of New Zealand. A simulation match (India A vs New Zealand A) is the only game Siraj has played on this tour, but there’s a lot of difference between playing a simulation game and an actual international game where the pressure is immense.