Harbhajan Singh Questions BCCI Over Siraj’s Omission from Asia Cup Squad
Harbhajan says leaving out Siraj weakens India’s bowling for Asia Cup 2025.
The announcement of India’s 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025, set to commence on September 9 in the UAE, has sparked intense debate, particularly over the exclusion of pacer Mohammed Siraj.
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, speaking on his YouTube channel, strongly criticized the Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee for omitting Siraj, whom he considers an “X-factor” whose absence will weaken India’s bowling attack. The squad, revealed on August 19, 2025, includes Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana as the primary seamers, with Hardik Pandya as an additional pace option and Prasidh Krishna as a reserve.
Harbhajan highlighted Siraj’s stellar form, noting his 23 wickets in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England, where he was the series’ leading wicket-taker, instrumental in India’s victories at Edgbaston and The Oval. “Siraj bowled very well in the recent series.
If he had been taken, the team would have looked even stronger,” Harbhajan stated, emphasizing that despite Siraj’s heavy workload in England, he had sufficient rest to contribute effectively. Siraj’s T20I record includes 14 wickets in 16 matches at an economy rate of 7.79, and he claimed 16 wickets in IPL 2025 for Gujarat Titans, delivering 151 dot balls.
The exclusion of Siraj, who last played a T20I during India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, follows his absence from the Champions Trophy 2025 squad, signaling a shift in India’s T20I strategy under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Harbhajan also expressed surprise at the omission of Shreyas Iyer, who scored 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07 in IPL 2025, leading Punjab Kings to the final.
The selectors’ preference for Harshit Rana and the inclusion of Prasidh Krishna, the IPL 2025 Purple Cap winner with 25 wickets, has fueled further scrutiny, with critics arguing Siraj’s proven dynamism could prove vital on UAE’s spin-friendly pitches. As India prepares to face UAE, Pakistan, and Oman in Group A, Harbhajan’s remarks underscore concerns that the team may miss Siraj’s game-changing presence.
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