Former South Africa cricketer AB de Villiers has said that the Indian team management kept Mohammed Siraj out of the T20 World Cup squad to ensure that a balance was maintained and the latter is just unlucky
not to find himself a place in the team for next month’s World Cup.
Siraj, who was part of India’s T20 World Cup squad in 2024, the team which went on to win the title, didn’t find a place for the 2026 edition of the tournament.
Siraj also didn’t play the three-match ODI series against South Africa and questions were raised about whether he was reduced to being a one-format player. But he was eventually picked for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand.
“We see Siraj in the ODI squad, he is one of the unlucky guys to miss out. But that is once again down to the balance. You have got Bumrah and Arshdeep. Harshit can hold the bat as well,” de Villiers said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“So there are your three seamers. I think that is the reason why you went for Harshit because Siraj is only an outright bowler. They do not want to focus too much on seam bowling,” de Villiers said.
“The focus is on the spinners. If they get wickets with the seamers upfront, they almost see it as a bonus in a way. So Siraj is unlucky, but at least he is in the ODI plans moving forward for the 2027 World Cup,” de Villiers added.
Siraj enjoyed a solid IPL 2025 with the Gujarat Titans, claiming 16 wickets in 15 games, but didn’t play a single T20I in 2025.
“The problem with Harshit Rana with the new ball is that he does not have a lot of experience at the international level. But if he can give you a few overs with Bumrah and Arshdeep, there are enough overs and then Shivam and Hardik can fill up,” de Villiers said, claiming that India have a balanced side for the T20 World Cup.
