“How did he disappear from ODI cricket?” - Ex-Indian cricketer questions selectors for Mohammed Siraj’s non-selection in white-ball formats

Ex-cricketer Aakash Chopra questions Mohammed Siraj's unexplained "disappearance" from ODI cricket, stating he has been reduced to a one-format player. Chopra highlighted Siraj's past ODI success and the struggles of young pacers like Prasidh Krishna in the current South Africa series.

07 Dec 2025 14:20 IST

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Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has questioned the Indian selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, for Mohammed Siraj’s non-selection in the ongoing ODI series against South Africa.

Speaking on his X handle, Chopra asserted that it was a bit unfair not to see him in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad. Notably, Siraj last played the ODI format against Australia Down Under in October 2025 in Sydney.

"Do you understand what is happening to Mohammed Siraj? I don’t. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that he’s become a one-format bowler. When did that happen? When Siraj plays Test cricket, everyone praises him for his passion, commitment, never-say-die attitude, and his wicket-taking abilities,” Aakash Chopra said in a video posted on his X handle

“But how did he disappear from ODI cricket? He is playing domestic cricket but is not part of the ODI setup. We felt it was a little unfair when his name was missing from India’s Champions Trophy squad. He was the highest wicket-taker for India in ODIs in the two years before that. Suddenly, his name is not there,” he added.

"Rest have played, whether it’s Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, but Siraj is nowhere to be seen. He is not there in ODIs and has vanished from T20Is. But why and when did it happen? What’s the reason? Personally, I don’t know. Miyan magic no longer magical in two formats? When did he become a single-format player?” the former cricketer concluded.

In the three-match ODI series against Australia Down Under, Siraj could scalp only two wickets. He was later axed from the ODI series and T20I series against South Africa at home, without a proper reason from the selection committee.

Speaking about Siraj's numbers, he has played 47 ODIs, scalping 73 wickets, while he pocketed 14 wickets from 16 T20Is.

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