Mohammed Siraj has finally addressed his omission from India’s T20 World Cup squad. The Hyderabad pacer, who has played 16 T20I matches and taken 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.79, hasn’t featured in a T20I for India since July 2024. Despite a strong performance in the IPL 2025 with Gujarat Titans, Siraj’s path to the national team has been hindered by the emergence of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.

India have unveiled their pace bowling lineup for the T20 World Cup, which will be held from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka. The squad includes Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah, as the main fast bowlers, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube expected to step in with the ball when necessary.

“I was part of the last T20 World Cup, but not this one. Playing in a World Cup is a dream for any player, and representing your country makes it even more meaningful. The team is in great form and looks strong on paper. I wish them all the best. Bring the trophy home,” Siraj said to reporters.

Following his absence from the South Africa series last year, Siraj was recalled to the ODI squad for the New Zealand series. The pacer stressed the importance of workload management and downplayed any concerns regarding his intermittent involvement in the white-ball squad.

“I was given rest for the last ODI series against South Africa because I had bowled 40 overs in the second Test against them in Guwahati. I haven’t been in and out of the team. I played in the ODI series in Australia and was then rested for South Africa. For a fast bowler, adequate rest is essential. I’ve been playing Test matches regularly, which involves a lot of physical effort. It’s important to recover and recharge to keep my rhythm and focus intact,” Siraj explained.