Mohammed Siraj to be rested for England series

India's fast bowler Mohammed Siraj will be given a much-needed rest after his intense performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, according to reports, Siraj, who played a crucial role in India's victory in T20 World Cup 2024, will be rested for the upcoming five-match T20I series against England.

The India National Cricket Team is preparing to host England for a white-ball series, consisting of five T20Is followed by three ODIs. This will be the only series before the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. While Siraj will miss the T20Is, he is expected to be available for the three-match ODI series against England and the prestigious ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Mohammed Siraj has been in outstanding form during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he bowled tirelessly across all five matches, delivering more than 157 overs, claiming 20 wickets, and bowled the most overs in the series. His continuous efforts over the past few months have prompted the team management to rest him for the T20I series in order to keep him fresh and fit for the upcoming ODI series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

As part of the preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, reports suggest that opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has yet to make his ODI debut, will be included in the squad as a backup opener for Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. 

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer are expected to feature in the middle order, while KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant will be competing for a spot in the squad. India's spin attack will likely include Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, with Washington Sundar also possibly playing a role in the team.

Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was India’s leading wicket-taker in the T20 World Cup 2024, is also in the mix for a spot in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad. Singh has continued his impressive form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, topping the wicket-taking charts.

The selection committee is also monitoring Varun Chakravarthy’s performance, but it remains uncertain if he will make the final squad. Additionally, there are reports suggesting that Nitish Kumar Reddy could travel with the team as a backup for all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

As the selection for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 approaches, these key decisions will shape India’s squad for the prestigious tournament.