Devang Gandhi questions Mohammed Siraj’s exclusion from IND vs SA 2025 ODIs

Former Indian cricketer Devang Gandhi has questioned the selectors for Mohammed Siraj’s exclusion in the ongoing three-match ODI series against South Africa. Gandhi said while Jasprit Bumrah’s omission is understandable as his workload is being managed, he shared his surprise regarding Siraj’s absence.

Both Bumrah and Siraj were rested for the ODI series after the two-match Test series against the Proteas. Meanwhile, India could not defend a par score of 359 runs in the second game at Raipur on Wednesday.

“Why is Mohammed Siraj not playing this ODI series, especially after his growth in stature since the England series? Okay, you have rested Jasprit Bumrah because of his workload. Now then, if that’s the reason with Siraj as well, then how is he playing in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (for Hyderabad)? Does workload management imply you can play domestic cricket but not the international matches?” Devang Gandhi said on Telegraph India.

Gandhi questioned what the team management had done if one of the three pacers had been injured.

“Suppose on the eve of a game, one of the three quicks gets injured or indisposed. Who do you play then? You don’t have enough (ODI cricket) experience in your pace group in the first place, and then you could be forced to include (seamer all-rounder) Nitish Kumar Reddy, who will neither bat in the top six nor give you too many overs with the ball. The presence of an experienced guy like Siraj could seriously have helped in such a situation,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has been added to India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against South Africa.

The third and final ODI between India and South Africa will be played at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, on Saturday.