India's ODI squad omission sparks debate over Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj

During the 2026 three‑match ODI series between India and England, former cricketer‑turned‑commentator Aakash Chopra argued that spinner Kuldeep Yadav has been consistently the first player dropped whenever the team changes its playing combination. Chopra noted that Yadav, despite years in the squad, has played only a handful of matches and deserves a chance as a wicket‑taking option in the middle overs.

Chopra also said fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been "silently sidelined," becoming the first pacer left out of the current ODI squad. He highlighted Siraj’s three‑wicket performance in India’s T20 World Cup opener against the United States and his earlier contributions, suggesting that the selectors are unlikely to keep him out for long and that he could feature in India’s 2027 ODI World Cup plan.