Former India player Aakash Chopra has added that Mohammed Siraj’s non-selection for the 2025 Champions Trophy won’t define his future. He shared that Siraj has overcome hard times and won’t get disheartened because of being ignored once as well. However, the Champions Trophy will take place in Pakistan and Dubai from February 19 onwards. Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana are the
three specialist pace bowlers picked in India’s 15-member squad for the tournament as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “One tournament’s selection or non-selection won’t define Mohammed Siraj. He is too good a player and has been doing very well for a long time. You should look at it from two or three angles. Firstly, how the player is doing. I don’t think he is doing badly. His performance might not be extraordinary but he is not doing bad either.”
“The guy’s work ethic is excellent. He puts cricket before everything else. He was playing cricket when his father passed away as well. He didn’t return home. He stayed back for the BGT (Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21) as his father also wanted him to play. He has reached this far after putting in a lot of hard work. He won’t accept defeat so early,” Chopra further added.
ALSO READ: “In the next T20 World Cup in India, he’ll be number one bowler” – Mohammad Kaif on Varun Chakravarthy
However, Aakash Chopra also noted that India don’t have too many formidable pacers apart from Jasprit Bumrah. THe also added that Mohammed Siraj can replace any of the other Indian pacers as well.
“Secondly, you should look around and see which all players can take your place. Sometimes, there are so many good people that you make a mistake once, and you are out. You don’t get a chance to come back. However, when you look around, you see Bumrah, who is outstanding, but he is alone,” he said.
“Other than that, Siraj can play in place of Shami, Harshit and Arshdeep. Siraj can fit into any of the available places. After that also, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep, a lot of names are there but there is no one like Bumrah. So for Siraj, I feel there is a strong future ahead of him,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
