AB de Villiers Discusses Mohammed Siraj's T20 World Cup Exclusion

In a recent discussion, AB de Villiers addressed the exclusion of Mohammed Siraj from India's T20 World Cup squad, describing him as one of the unfortunate players left out. He emphasized India's strong bowling lineup and the strategic focus on spinners. De Villiers noted that while Siraj's absence is regrettable, it reflects the team's balance, with other pacers like Harshit Rana contributing with the bat. As India prepares for the T20 World Cup, they are set to face the USA in their opening match on February 7. Read on for more insights from De Villiers on India's cricketing strategy.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 5, 2026, 02:08 IST

AB de Villiers Comments on Siraj's T20 World Cup Absence

Johannesburg [South Africa], January 4: Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers expressed his thoughts on Mohammed Siraj's omission from the T20 World Cup squad, labeling him as "one of the unfortunate players to miss out." He emphasized that India has a well-rounded bowling lineup.

De Villiers, who shared the field with Siraj during their time at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), shared his insights on his YouTube channel. Despite Siraj's recent return to the ODI setup for the series against New Zealand, he was not selected for the T20 World Cup, even though he is known for his relentless bowling style.

With 14 wickets in 16 T20 internationals at an average of 32.28, including a four-wicket haul, Siraj last played a T20I in July 2024 against Sri Lanka.

On his channel, De Villiers noted that while Siraj's exclusion is unfortunate, it comes down to team balance. He highlighted that Harshit Rana, another pacer alongside Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya, also contributes with the bat. De Villiers pointed out that the team's strategy leans towards utilizing spinners, with Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy being key players in recent T20 matches.

"Siraj is indeed unlucky to miss out, but it’s about the balance of the team. You have Bumrah and Arshdeep, and Harshit can bat as well. That’s why they opted for Harshit, as Siraj is primarily a bowler, and the focus is shifting towards spinners. If the seamers can take wickets early, it’s seen as a bonus," De Villiers explained.

He acknowledged that while Harshit lacks extensive international experience with the new ball, he, along with Bumrah and Arshdeep, can provide sufficient overs, with Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya offering part-time pace options.

"Harshit doesn’t have much experience with the new ball, but if he can contribute a few overs alongside Bumrah and Arshdeep, it should suffice. They also have a solid spin attack, which is crucial for winning matches," he added.

De Villiers concluded by stating that India possesses a championship-caliber team, capable of overcoming challenges. "When Bumrah has an off day, Kuldeep steps up, and vice versa. Hardik can also shift the momentum. These are the attributes of a winning team, and India has all the bases covered," he remarked.

India is set to compete in Group A alongside the USA, Namibia, the Netherlands, and Pakistan, beginning their campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7.

India's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 and the New Zealand T20I series includes: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar, and Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper).