T20 WC 2026: Why was Mohammed Siraj dropped despite strong performance in first match?

Published - 27 Feb 2026, 12:38 IST | Updated - 27 Feb 2026, 12:48 IST

Ace pacer Mohammed Siraj’s T20 World Cup 2026 stint has been more of a sudden opportunity, strong impact, and then a return to the bench. Many fans questioned if he impressed in his comeback game against the USA, why hasn’t he featured again in the competition?

Notably, Siraj was not even part of the original 15-man squad. He received a last-minute call after all-rounder Harshit Rana was ruled out with a knee injury during a warm-up match in Navi Mumbai. The call came unexpectedly, with Captain Suryakumar Yadav asking him to pack his bags and join the team immediately. Within hours, Siraj flew in, linked up with the squad at 3 am in Mumbai, and was told he would play the opening game against the USA.

The speedster made his first T20I appearance since July 2024, making it a gap of over 500 days. Against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium, Siraj opened the bowling alongside Arshdeep Singh, and ended with figures of 3-29, playing a crucial role in India's successful defense of 161 to register a 29-run win.

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Siraj’s inclusion in the USA game was also influenced by circumstance. Jasprit Bumrah had missed that match due to illness. With Bumrah unavailable, India needed an experienced seamer to partner Arshdeep Singh, making Siraj the natural choice.

However, once Bumrah returned for the next game against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, the team management reverted to their preferred pace combination. Bumrah and Arshdeep are India’s first-choice new-ball pair in T20Is. Furthermore, the seam-bowling options of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, both capable of contributing two to three overs, leave less room for Siraj to make it to the cut.

Over the past few years, the team has prioritised batting depth in T20Is. Hardik and Dube provide flexibility as seam-bowling all-rounders, while Axar Patel adds spin and lower-order stability. With Varun Chakaravarthy operating as the sole wrist-spinner, the team structure leaves room for only two frontline pacers.

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Unlike Harshit Rana, whom he replaced, Siraj does not give lower-order hitting. Rana’s ability to contribute with the bat added depth to the squad composition. Siraj, a genuine tailender, does not strengthen India’s batting depth. So when Bumrah regained full fitness, Siraj was the unfortunate casualty despite his strong showing.

He did not feature in the Namibia game because the team combination reverted to its first-choice structure. Now, as India enters the business end of the tournament, making changes becomes even more unlikely. With Bumrah and Arshdeep leading the attack and Hardik providing the third seam option, Siraj’s chances of breaking back into the XI appear slim.