Indian fast bowling spearhead Mohammed Siraj has opened up on his snub from the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, slated to begin next month. Siraj, who was a part of the Indian team that won the previous T20 World Cup 2024, has since fallen down the pecking order in the shortest-format.
Given that India will now get a chance to defend the title at home, Siraj would have hoped to be on the squad but that did not happen. Now amid the ongoing IND vs NZ series, the 31-year-old was quizzed on the same lines and Siraj revealed his thoughts on it.
Speaking ahead of the deciding IND vs NZ 3rd ODI tomorrow (January 18), Siraj said,
“I played the T20 World Cup last time but not this time so obviously, playing a World Cup is a dream for every player. But it’s ok, the team that has been selected looks very good on paper, everyone is in form. I just wish them good luck, the trophy is here only for now and it should stay here.”
Although kept away from the T20I setup, Siraj is still an integral part of the Indian side in ODIs and Tests.
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Out of the Indian T20I side for more than a year, Siraj has continued to deliver the goods in the shortest format. In the IPL 2025, Siraj finished the season with 16 scalps from 15 games. In the recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT 2025) too, he took seven wickets in four matches including a POTM performance against Mumbai.
Siraj produced a match-winning bowling spell of 3/21 in 3.5 overs, going under an economy of six. He took two wickets in two balls in the 17th over of Mumbai’s innings and then returned in the penultimate over to take another.
Speaking of Siraj’s overall T20 numbers, he has 183 wickets in 159 innings at an average of 25.92, including six four-wicket hauls.
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