Former South African batting legend AB de Villiers has weighed in on the notable omission of pace bowler Mohammed Siraj from India's squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. De Villiers attributed the decision to strategic team composition rather than any dip in the pacer's form or performance.
Team Balance Trumps Individual Form
Speaking candidly on his popular YouTube channel, de Villiers dissected the selection puzzle. He pointed out that Siraj, who is part of the ODI setup and is in the plans for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, was simply "unfortunate" to miss the cut for the shorter format. "We see Siraj in the ODI squad, he is one of the unlucky guys to miss out. But that is once again down to the balance," de Villiers stated.
The ex-cricketer elaborated that the Indian think-tank opted for a specific combination of bowlers, prioritizing variety and depth. He highlighted that with the established pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh leading the pace attack, the selectors looked for a third seamer who could contribute with the bat. This, according to de Villiers, is where Harshit Rana got the nod over Siraj.
India's Spin-Centric Strategy Revealed
De Villiers provided a deeper insight into India's likely game plan for the tournament, suggesting a clear shift in focus. "They do not want to focus too much on seam bowling. The focus is on the spinners," he revealed. He explained that early wickets from the fast bowlers would be considered a bonus, but the primary wicket-taking responsibility is expected to fall on the spin department.
He acknowledged the potential risk with Harshit Rana's relative inexperience at the international level with the new ball. However, he believes the team has it covered. "If he can give you a few overs with Bumrah and Arshdeep, there is enough overs, and then Shivam [Dube] and Hardik [Pandya] can fill up," de Villiers added, underlining the all-round options available to captain Rohit Sharma.
A Well-Covered Championship Unit
The Proteas great expressed strong belief in the completeness of the Indian squad. He praised the depth and variety in the bowling unit, which allows the team to shift momentum from different sources. "They also cover all bases with spin, and that's where they will focus on trying to win games," he said.
De Villiers painted a picture of a resilient attack where if one star has an off day, another steps up. "When Bumrah has a quiet night, a Kuldeep [Yadav] comes through and gets you four and vice versa. Then there is Hardik coming through in the middle and turning the momentum around," he illustrated. He concluded by calling India a "championship team" that has all its bases covered for the global event.
While Siraj had a decent IPL 2025 season, claiming 16 wickets in 15 matches for the Gujarat Titans, he did not play a T20 International in the calendar year. His exclusion, as per de Villiers' analysis, is a tactical move centred on constructing a multi-dimensional team for the World Cup, with his long-term role in the 50-over format remaining secure.
