Aakash Chopra, the former Indian cricketer, has voiced his surprise and disappointment over the recent exclusion of Mohammed Siraj from India's One Day International (ODI) team. Chopra questions how Siraj, who has shown impressive form in Test cricket, has effectively become a one-format player.

Chopra's comments come after India's failure to defend a score of 359 in the second ODI against South Africa in Raipur on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. The defeat highlighted weaknesses in the Indian bowling attack, further fueling Chopra's bewilderment at Siraj's absence.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra noted that Arshdeep Singh was the only bowler who performed well in the second ODI against South Africa. He then questioned why Mohammed Siraj is not being considered for selection in the ODI setup again. He stated that he can't understand how Siraj has become a one-format player.

Siraj has an impressive record in Test cricket, having taken 139 wickets in 45 matches. However, he has been in and out of the white-ball squad. Despite being part of the ODI squad in Australia last month, he was not selected for the ongoing series against South Africa. In 47 ODIs, Mohammed Siraj has picked up 73 wickets at an economy rate of 5.17. He played all three ODIs in India's recent white-ball tour of Australia but wasn't picked for the ongoing series against South Africa.

Chopra also addressed the argument that Siraj might be rested due to workload management, dismissing it by pointing out Siraj's participation in domestic cricket. Chopra questions that if Siraj is fit enough to play for Hyderabad in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, then why isn't he being considered for the national side?

The former India opener also noted that Arshdeep Singh was the only bowler to perform well in the second ODI and questioned why Siraj has been ignored.

The debate around Siraj's role in the Indian team extends beyond his exclusion from the ODI squad. Some observers have noted his absence from T20 Internationals (T20Is) as well. This has led to questions about the team management's plans for Siraj and whether he is being pigeonholed as a Test specialist.

While Siraj has not publicly addressed the situation, the discussions surrounding his format-specific selection highlight the intense competition for places in the Indian team and the challenges faced by players in adapting to the demands of all three formats of the game.