Replacement or Regular? Where Does Siraj Stand in India’s T20 World Cup XI

It’s all about destiny. Siraj was planning a holiday in Spain. His tickets were booked, and he even had plans to watch a live match of his favourite team, Real Madrid, at Santiago Bernabeu. But as they say, everything is written and destined.

On the morning of 6th February, just one day before the India vs USA match in the T20 World Cup 2026, things changed dramatically. Harshit Rana was ruled out after his medical reports confirmed an injury. Suddenly, a big question arose: who will fill the gap?

Harshit Rana wasn’t just a pace option. He could also contribute quick runs in the death overs, a Hardik-like option. Replacing him was never going to be easy, especially since there was no obvious alternative in the probable list.

Then, suddenly, Siraj started trending on social media. Experts, cricket news platforms, and even BCCI sources began confirming the same thing, Siraj was set to be added to the squad.

Why was Siraj considered when he last played a T20I in 2024?

Siraj has played 16 T20Is for India, picking up 14 wickets. He had been out of the T20I setup for nearly 18 months, last appearing against Sri Lanka in 2024. Since then, he featured mainly in the IPL and domestic T20 tournaments like the SMAT, where he performed consistently well.

Even Mohammad Shami did well in the same format, especially in the SMAT, yet Siraj was preferred. The reason was simple, consistency and trust.

Over the past few seasons, especially across formats for India, Siraj has specialised in providing early breakthroughs. He played a key role in the 2025 Test series against England, picking up 23 wickets, and continued to perform strongly in ODIs and T20Is against New Zealand and South Africa, often leading the pace attack.

He bowled tirelessly, 185.3 overs, the second-most by an Indian seamer in a series since 2002 and delivered a massive 1,113 balls, topping the endurance charts. That reliability is precisely why he was considered the prime replacement for Harshit Rana.

Whenever teams put their trust in him, he pays them back

This has been proven time and again. Whenever the team backs Siraj, he rarely disappoints. Take the 5th Test against England at The Oval, England were dominating the match. Almost every Indian bowler struggled except Siraj. On the final day, England needed 44 runs, while India needed 5 wickets. It seemed impossible to defend.

But Siraj stepped up as the ace and reliable option. He dismantled the lower order, and India pulled off a stunning win by 6 runs.

History repeated itself again. In the India vs USA opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026, Bumrah was unwell, and Siraj was once again the destined replacement in the playing XI. As the USA began dominating early, Siraj struck in the very first over, picking up three crucial wickets. India went on to start their World Cup campaign with a convincing win.

Will he be in the Playing XI or warm the bench?

Now, with Bumrah declared fit, he is likely to return for the next game against Namibia in Delhi on 12th February 2026. On the other end, Arshdeep Singh, one of India’s best T20I pacers, is unlikely to be rested unless unfit.

Then there’s Hardik Pandya, a power-hitter who also provides a crucial pace-bowling option, something India desperately needs. There’s little sense in playing four specialist pacers unless the pitch is clearly pace-friendly.

That leaves only one realistic option: Siraj warming the bench. And honestly, there’s no harm in that.

In the T20 World Cup 2024, Siraj featured in just three matches. He was economical but didn’t pick up many wickets. Squad depth is part of tournament success.

So, good luck to Siraj. Whether he plays or not, he’s earned his place in the journey. And if things go India’s way again, like last year, maybe he’ll be there when India lifts the trophy once more.

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