Mohammed Siraj was one of the unluckiest players to be left out of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, according to former South Africa captain AB de Villiers, who speculates that the decision had more to do with balance than skill.
De Villiers believed that Siraj’s exclusion was a tactical decision based more on team chemistry than on skill or form. The former Proteas captain clarified on his YouTube channel that when deciding on the pace attack, India’s selectors gave priority to depth and flexibility, particularly with regard to all-around alternatives.
“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 said. “You have got Bumrah and Arshdeep. Harshit can hold the bat as well. So there are your three seamers.”
De Villiers continued by highlighting India’s more comprehensive T20 approach, implying that seam bowling is no longer the primary goal in the shortest format.
“I think that is the reason why you went for Harshit because Siraj is only an outright bowler, and they do not want to focus too much on seam bowling,” he added. “The focus is on the spinners. If they get wickets with the seamers upfront, they almost see it as a bonus in a way.”
Siraj, who hasn’t played in a Twenty20 International since July 2024, was overlooked as India favored adaptability. Along with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana’s bat contribution reinforced the seam unit and provided the balance that the team management seems to be looking for.
Siraj is still a key component of India’s white-ball aspirations even though he was left out of the T20 World Cup cut. He recently made a comeback to the ODI lineup for the January series against New Zealand, demonstrating that the selectors still see him as a crucial player in the run-up to the 2027 World Cup.
De Villiers, who was in the same dressing room as Siraj at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, insisted that the pacer’s worth hasn’t decreased. Rather, his exclusion from the T20 team is a reflection of India’s changing strategy in the format, where spin-heavy combinations and batting depth are becoming more prevalent.
