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De Villiers: Siraj Unlucky Omission for T20 WC
4 Jan
Summary
- AB de Villiers believes Mohammed Siraj is an unlucky omission from the T20 World Cup squad.
- Harshit Rana was preferred due to his batting ability and team balance.
- India's spin attack and experienced pacers cover all bases for the tournament.
AB de Villiers, former South Africa captain, has weighed in on Mohammed Siraj's surprising omission from the T20 World Cup 2026 squad. De Villiers described Siraj as one of the unlucky players, suggesting that Harshit Rana's inclusion was based on his ability to contribute with the bat and maintain team balance. Siraj has been included in the ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand.
De Villiers explained that with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh already in the squad, Harshit Rana's batting capabilities made him the preferred third seamer. He noted that India's strategy focuses on spinners, viewing upfront wickets from seamers as a bonus. While Siraj is unlucky for the T20 World Cup, he remains a key part of India's ODI plans for the 2027 World Cup, having taken seven wickets in four matches during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
India's pace attack for the T20 World Cup 2026 features Bumrah, Arshdeep, and Rana, supported by all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. De Villiers acknowledged Rana's limited international new-ball experience but expressed confidence that the combined efforts of Bumrah, Arshdeep, Pandya, and Dube, along with a strong spin attack including Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy, would cover all bases effectively. India's campaign begins on February 7 against the USA.
