With Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to a lower back injury, the BCCI has named Harshit Rana as his replacement, surprising many as Mohammed Siraj was expected to step in. The decision has sparked discussions about why Siraj, who was among the standbys when Bumrah was in the squad, has been overlooked despite his recent performances.
Bumrah’s injury occurred during the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Sydney, where he suffered back spasms. With India losing their premier fast bowler, selectors opted for Harshit Rana over Siraj, who was India’s second-best pacer in the BGT series preceding the IND vs ENG ODIs.
Why Wasn’t Siraj Considered?
While many expected Siraj to replace Bumrah, reports indicate that the team combination played a major role in his omission. India’s captain Rohit Sharma had earlier explained that in the team’s tactical setup, Siraj wouldn’t have been able to bowl with the new ball, limiting his effectiveness. Rohit clarified, “That is why, unfortunately, he has to miss out.”
This decision has raised eyebrows, as Siraj’s experience and wicket-taking ability in ODIs could have been crucial for India’s campaign. He had been among the most consistent pacers for India in the last few years and was a key player in the BGT series, just before the Champions Trophy squad selection.
Siraj’s ODI Stats (2019-2024):
- Matches: 44
- Innings: 43
- Overs Bowled: 329.1
- Wickets: 71
- Best Bowling Figures: 6/21
- Bowling Average: 24.04
- Economy Rate: 5.18
- Strike Rate: 27.8
Performance Against Key Teams:
- Australia: 8 wickets (Best: 3/29)
- Bangladesh: 8 wickets (Best: 3/32)
- England: 2 wickets (Best: 2/66)
- New Zealand: 7 wickets (Best: 4/46)
- Sri Lanka: 22 wickets (Best: 6/21)
Gautam Gambhir’s Support for Harshit Rana
Meanwhile, KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir has publicly backed Harshit Rana, praising his ability to bowl at high speeds, extract bounce, and handle pressure in crunch situations. Rana, who has impressed in his debut ODI series, has already shown his potential across formats.
Is Siraj’s Exclusion Justified?
With Bumrah out, many experts believe Siraj should have been the natural choice as he was already part of the standby players list. His experience, death-over ability, and proven record in ODIs make his omission a surprising call. However, India’s strategy to go with Harshit Rana could indicate a long-term investment in young pacers who can bring variety to the bowling attack.
With India starting their Champions Trophy campaign on February 20 against Bangladesh, all eyes will be on Harshit Rana to justify his selection over Siraj and prove that the team management’s faith in him was the right decision.