Mohammed Siraj Dropped Despite Strong Start; Squad Exclusions Trigger Bias Row

The T20 World Cup 2026 stay of star pacer Mohammed Siraj has been more of an unexpected opportunity, a powerful effect, and a return to the bench. Many supporters questioned why he hadn't played in the competition again after making an impression in his comeback match against the USA.

Leaders of the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Mufti Ismail and Abu Azmi, respectively, have reportedly claimed that Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj were left out of the playing eleven due to their Muslim faith, sparking a contentious discussion in Maharashtra, according to a Zed News report.

Interestingly, Siraj did not even make the first 15-man roster. After all-rounder Harshit Rana was sidelined due to a knee injury sustained during a warm-up game in Navi Mumbai, he was called at the last minute. Captain Suryakumar Yadav called him out of the blue and asked him to pack his luggage and join the team right away. In a matter of hours, Siraj arrived by plane, joined the team in Mumbai at 3:00 a.m., and was informed that he would play in the first match against the United States.

Why is Mohammed Siraj excluded?

After India lost their first Super 8 encounter against South Africa by 76 runs, the controversy grew more intense. Muslim players were being routinely ignored, according to AIMIM MLA Mufti Ismail, who also questioned if Shami and Siraj's exclusion from the starting lineup contributed to the loss.

Abu Azmi, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, expressed similar worries, saying that it would be a big issue if athletes were being excluded from competition because of their faith. At a pivotal point in the competition, the accusations swiftly gathered traction in political circles, putting cricket selection under public scrutiny.

Before their 76-run loss to South Africa in their Super 8 opener, India had remained undefeated in the league stage. Following that loss, the political comments came to light, drawing more outside attention as India got ready for their upcoming match against Zimbabwe, which they ultimately won by 72 runs.

Circumstances also played a role in Siraj's involvement in the USA game. Jasprit Bumrah was unwell and missed that game. India needed an experienced seamer to accompany Arshdeep Singh since Bumrah was not available; Siraj was the obvious pick. 

But the team management went back to their favourite pace combination when Bumrah returned for the following match against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. In T20Is, India's first-choice new-ball duo is Bumrah and Arshdeep. Siraj's chances of making the cut are further reduced by the seam-bowling alternatives of Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya, each of whom can contribute two to three overs.

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