Champions Trophy: Siraj’s Omission, Jaiswal’s Snub & A Spin-Heavy Gamble-Explained

Team Selection Sparks Debate As India Bets Big On Spinners Over Pacers.

February 14, 2025: India’s Champions Trophy Squad: Why Siraj And Jaiswal Missed Out

With the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 around the corner, India’s squad selection has sparked intense debate, particularly regarding the omission of Mohammed Siraj and Yashasvi Jaiswal and the inclusion of five spinners for a tournament being played in Dubai—a venue historically favoring pacers.

Also Read: Yashasvi Jaiswal to Feature in Ranji Trophy Semifinal After Champions Trophy Snub

Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s injury ruling him out, the selectors opted for Harshit Rana over the experienced Siraj. Additionally, young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was left out, further raising eyebrows.

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Spin-Heavy Strategy In A Pace-Friendly Venue?

India has stacked its bowling attack with five spinners—Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy. However, stats suggest Dubai has traditionally been favorable for pacers in 50-over cricket.

Also Read: India’s Road to ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Strengths, Weaknesses & Key Challenges

• Dubai International Cricket Stadium Stats (Since 2009):
  • Pacers: 466 wickets | Average: 28.6 | Economy: 4.8
  • Spinners: 334 wickets | Average: 30.0 | Economy: 4.2

A former national selector commented:

“The Dubai surface has more carry than Sharjah. If you use the new ball well, pacers can dominate. I’m not against Chakravarthy’s inclusion, but an additional experienced pacer like Siraj would have been more beneficial.”

Chakravarthy’s selection is a high-risk gamble, considering his failure at the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. However, his impressive form against England might have worked in his favour.

Also Read: Champions Trophy: “Stop Calling Me King”: Babar Azam’s Humble Plea To Media

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Why Was Siraj Overlooked?

Harshit Rana replaced Bumrah, despite Siraj’s experience in major ICC tournaments. Captain Rohit Sharma cited Siraj’s ineffectiveness with the old ball as the reason for his exclusion.

“Siraj struggled to strike with the older ball, while Rana has shown promise in that phase,” said Rohit.

Rana has been entrusted with a major role, having already displayed his ability to bowl in crucial phases across formats. But will he be able to handle the pressure in a global event?

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Jaiswal Dropped—A Tactical Call?

The most surprising exclusion was Yashasvi Jaiswal, one of India’s brightest young openers. While the selectors wanted to retain an in-form Varun Chakravarthy, many argue Washington Sundar could have been left out instead.

Jaiswal’s exit simplifies India’s top-order dilemma, ensuring a stable combination of:
✅ Rohit Sharma
✅ Shubman Gill
✅ Virat Kohli

With Shreyas Iyer cementing his No. 4 spot, Jaiswal’s selection could have created a batting conundrum—one the selectors seemingly wished to avoid.

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Key Risks India Is Taking In The Squad

1️⃣ Spin-Dominated Attack: A risky move considering Dubai’s pace-friendly conditions.
2️⃣ Relying On Hardik Pandya’s Fitness: His ability to bowl full spells is not guaranteed.
3️⃣ Unproven Harshit Rana Over Siraj: A bold move that could backfire in crunch moments.
4️⃣ Jaiswal’s Omission: Could impact flexibility if an opener struggles.

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India’s Champions Trophy Fixtures & Squad

India’s Group Stage Fixtures

📍 India vs New Zealand – February 19 (Dubai)
📍 India vs Pakistan – February 23 (Dubai)
📍 India vs Bangladesh – February 27 (Dubai)

Full Squad:

Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Suryakumar Yadav.

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High-Risk, High-Reward – Will India’s Gamble Pay Off?

With unconventional squad choices, India is walking a tightrope between strategic brilliance and selection blunders. If the spinners shine, the gamble could pay off. But if Dubai’s pitches favor pace, the absence of Siraj might haunt them.

The real test begins on February 19—will this squad secure glory or face regret? Stay tuned! 🏏🔥

Tags: ChampionsTrophy2025, IndiaSquad, MohammedSiraj, YashasviJaiswal, TeamIndia, BCCI,