The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Mohammed Siraj to replace Harshit Rana in the forthcoming T20 World Cup. Rana has been officially ruled out of the 20-team competition after injuring his knee during a warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai.
Rana had to quit the field after throwing a single over during the practice match with pains in his knee. He was subsequently observed with his thigh taped and Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav before the start of the tournament on Saturday said that it did not look good.
Siraj will now become a part of India speed attack together with Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh who will take the frontline quicks. Hardik Pandya will be the all-rounder seam-bowler, and in case, Shivam Dube may offer some overs.
Mohammed Siraj was also part of India’s title-winning T20 World Cup squad in 2024, but he had a limited impact, managing just one wicket in three matches at an average of 57 and an economy rate of 5.18. He was later replaced in the tournament by Arshdeep Singh. The right-arm pacer has not featured in a T20I since July 2024, and across 16 matches overall, he has picked up 14 wickets at an average of 32.28.
India Set for World Cup Opener at Wankhede
Siraj is unlikely to make India’s playing XI as the team’s bowling combination appears to be more or less settled. India will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against the United States. Group A features the co-hosts along with Pakistan, Namibia, the USA, and the Netherlands.
In another development, Sri Lanka has been forced to make a squad change, with Eshan Malinga out of the competition due to a shoulder injury received during the T20I series against England on February 1. Pramod Madushan has been named as his successor. Madushan has played 13 One-Day Internationals and eight Twenty20 Internationals for Sri Lanka.
