Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Harshit Rana isn’t a better bowler than Mohammed Siraj, but that things have gone in Rana’s favour lately. He added that Harshit would have been a part of the playing XI in all three formats had he been a better bowler as well. Notably, Siraj hasn’t been picked in the 15-member Indian squad for the 2025 Asia Cup, taking place in the UAE from September 9 onwards as well.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “No, Siraj will be played ODIs as well. I think he will play ODI cricket as well. He will have to wait a little in T20Is. Harshit Rana isn’t a better bowler, because if that had been the case, he would have played in the XI in all three formats. The guy sits outside. So I won’t say he is a better bowler than Siraj or that his records are better than Siraj’s. At this point in time, it seems like things go in his favor slightly every now and then, but Siraj is a better bowler. If one does man-to-man marking, of course, Siraj is better.”

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However, Aakash Chopra also opined on Yuzvendra Chahal being sidelined from the Indian team as well.

“This is a good question. Your question hurt me. It might be hurting him as well, as to what more he needs to do, because he doesn’t get to play when he is part of the World Cup team. Something happens where his name doesn’t come in the XI, or else he is out of the team. The last IPL was hot and cold. I am not saying that he had a great IPL, but he is a quality player. However, there is no place for him now. Only one of him and Kuldeep can come in the 15. The rest of them will be bowlers who can bat, plus Varun Chakaravarthy. Varun Chakaravarthy has won this race by a mile in T20 cricket,” Aakash Chopra concluded.