Why Md Siraj is Not Playing Today in IND vs NAM T20 World Cup 2026?

After an impressive start to their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, India are playing their second match against Namibia. The contest is being hosted by one of the biggest cricket stadiums in India, Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, formerly known as Feroz Shah Kotla.
The crowd is set for a run-fest as the Men in Blue have been asked to bat first by the Namibian skipper Gerhard Erasmus. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav, meanwhile, announced two changes in the playing 11, one of them is Md Siraj, who is set miss this match as India's best bowler is set to back in the team.

Why Md Siraj is Not Playing Today against Namibia?

Star India pacer Mohammed Siraj was included in the squad as a replacement for Harshit Rana, who was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining an injury during a training session. Siraj straightaway got to play the first match after Jasprit Bumrah fell ill and couldn't make it to the playing XI. However, as the star bowler is fully fit now, he's back in the playing 11 as Md Siraj replacement for the IND vs NAM T20 World Cup 2026.

Mohammed Siraj Benched: Smart Strategy or Risky Move?

Mohammed Siraj made his T20I comeback after nearly two years, and it hardly looked like he’d been away. The star pacer bowled with precision, conceding just 29 runs in his four-over quota and picking up three wickets, clearly showing he’s in full rhythm. Bench­ing him so early in the tournament could disrupt his form and consistency.

On the flip side, bringing in Jasprit Bumrah against an associate side like Namibia carries its own risks. With India already managing multiple injuries, the team would want to avoid putting their main spearhead in harm’s way unnecessarily.

With India’s next match set against arch-rivals Pakistan, fielding the strongest 11 is crucial. Considering all this, benching Siraj to accommodate Bumrah against Namibia seems like a questionable strategy.