Team India are set to announce their squad for the 2025 Asia Cup, scheduled to take place later this month in the UAE. The selection committee of the BCCI is expected to meet on Tuesday, August 19, to finalize the squad for the competition. Among the players drawing attention is Mohammed Siraj.
The pace spearhead, who played a key role in India’s 2-2 Test series draw against England, is reportedly likely to be rested for the Asia Cup. The decision seems logical, keeping in view both the team’s immediate needs and its long-term plans. With that in mind, here are three reasons why leaving Mohammed Siraj out of the Asia Cup 2025 squad could prove to be the right call.
#1 Mohammed Siraj Has Been Playing Under Heavy Workload
In recent years, Jasprit Bumrah’s availability has been inconsistent, while Mohammed Shami’s effectiveness has gradually declined. Senior pacers like Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav have also moved out of the picture. Amid this transition in India’s pace department, Mohammed Siraj has emerged as one of the team’s biggest strengths.
He has cemented his place across all three formats, especially in Tests and ODIs, and is widely regarded as the country’s second-best fast bowler after the exceptional Bumrah. However, this rise has brought its own challenges. Siraj has been India’s most frequently used pacer, carrying a heavy workload across formats for several years.
This has occasionally reflected in his performances, and asking him to play another tournament immediately after his demanding role in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy might not be the wisest move.
#2 India should focus on developing a strong bench of fast bowlers
The 2025 Asia Cup is largely seen as a tournament India should win with ease. Teams like Pakistan are struggling with inconsistent form in T20 cricket, while India have clearly been the most dominant side in the format over the past two years.
Given this scenario, the competition provides India with an ideal opportunity to test their fast-bowling bench strength, which currently looks limited. Beyond Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, very few pacers have stepped up in T20Is.
Even in the Indian Premier League, the depth of India’s pace resources has appeared weak. Introducing bowlers such as Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, and Khaleel Ahmed could prove highly beneficial for building a stronger pool of pacers in the long run.
#3 Mohammed Siraj’s performances in T20 cricket have been inconsistent
Mohammed Siraj has been a key figure for India in Tests and ODIs, but he is yet to cement his place in the T20I side. So far, he has featured in only 16 matches, taking 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.8. In fact, Siraj has gone wicketless in five of his last seven T20I appearances.
While he began the 2025 Indian Premier League on a strong note, his performances dipped in the latter stages. At 31, he found it difficult to provide early breakthroughs in the powerplay, and his impact in the middle and death overs wasn’t enough to warrant selection solely on that basis.
Given this, India might benefit from experimenting with other pacers before bringing Siraj back into the T20I fold. That said, his skill and commitment to the game remain unquestionable.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
