India, Feb. 8 -- Mohammed Siraj's non-selection for the Champions Trophy squad came as a surprise to many. With fitness concerns lingering around Jasprit Bumrah, one school of thought suggests Siraj should have been part of the squad to add experience in the pace bowling line-up if Bumrah was to get ruled out.

However, former India spinner Nikhil Chopra believes Siraj would have always found it tough to make it to the squad, considering Mohammed Shami was making a comeback and the assistance Dubai surface offers to spinners. Chopra has a feeling that the decks in Dubai will offer a lot of purchase for the slower bowlers, and hence, the Indian think tank decided to go spin-heavy.

"Mohammed Shami was coming back as well, a match-winner. M...