Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj's omission from India's Champions Trophy squad came as a surprise. The right-arm pacer was among the top five in the ICC ODI rankings at the time of his exclusion. Remarkably, even after pace leader Jasprit Bumrah was sidelined from the tournament due to a back injury, India opted for Harshit Rana as his replacement instead of Siraj.

The cricketer from Hyderabad, who is one of the few Indian players consistently participating in all three formats, has missed a significant amount of cricket since his appearance in the fifth Test against Australia in Sydney earlier this January. He was also absent from India's white-ball teams during the home series against England.

Despite this setback, Siraj remains optimistic and refrains from pressuring himself regarding selection. 

“Selection is beyond my control. I can only focus on the cricket ball in my hand and strive to perform to the best of my ability. I prefer not to burden myself with thoughts of selection, as my priority is my performance," Siraj stated to PTI.

He acknowledged that events like the Asia Cup and the tour of England linger in his thoughts, but he emphasizes the importance of staying present. “As a player, it’s natural to have the upcoming tour of England and the Asia Cup in the back of your mind, but I don’t dwell on it. My main focus is on the IPL and contributing to the Gujarat Titans in their quest for another title,” he remarked.

Siraj honing his skills for IPL 2025

Siraj, who was released by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru prior to last year's auction, was acquired by the Gujarat Titans as a direct substitute for Mohammed Shami.

He mentioned that he utilized his time away from the Indian team to enhance his fitness and refine his bowling techniques.

"I have been playing for several years, and typically, we do not receive much downtime. However, with this break, I focused on improving my fitness and bowling abilities.

"I dedicated significant effort to mastering the art of bowling with both new and old balls, particularly honing my slower deliveries and yorkers. This period allowed me to concentrate on these aspects, and I am eager to see how it unfolds for me in this IPL," he remarked.

Now, Siraj will have the opportunity to collaborate with Ashish Nehra, who has established himself as an outstanding coach during his time with GT.

"As a fast bowler, Ashu bhai has made significant contributions to Indian cricket and was a true match-winner for the nation. I aim to learn from him techniques that I believe will enhance my performance as a bowler.

"It is crucial for me to incorporate new skills into my bowling, such as maintaining a stumps-to-stumps line and delivering at the appropriate length," Siraj emphasized.

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