Former selector Devang Gandhi has raised questions over the non-selection of Mohammed Siraj for the ODI series against South Africa. He also pointed out that with only three seamers, India also have no backup plan if one of them gets injured.
The Indian team has batted brilliantly in the ODI series against South Africa, with Virat Kohli as well as Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad making important contributions. After being sent in to bat first, India have set a target of 350+ in both the matches of the series.
However, scoring more runs does not win you matches, as bowlers also have to defend the total, and the inexperienced Indian bowling deck has failed to defend big scores. South Africa were unlucky in the first game, which they lost by 17 runs, but then made a great comeback in the second game.
Former selector raised questions on Mohammad Siraj being dropped from ODI series
India has selected a total of three frontline pacers for the South Africa ODI series. Veteran fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been rested from ODIs to relieve some of the workload, as he has been asked to focus on T20I and Test cricket.
The three players who have been selected are Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna, and together they have not represented India in even 50 ODIs. Therefore, at times the Indian pace deck looks weak and inexperienced against the experienced Protea batsmen.
After this strange defeat, former selector Devang Gandhi has claimed in a conversation with Telegraph that he cannot find any reason for Mohammad Siraj not playing the series. If he had been given rest due to workload, he would not have been playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
“Why is Mohammed Siraj not playing in this ODI series, especially after his rise in stature after the England series? Well, you have rested Jasprit Bumrah because of his workload. Now, if the reason is the same with Siraj, then how is he playing in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (for Hyderabad)? Does workload management mean you can play domestic cricket but not international matches?” The former selector told Telegraph India.
Devang Gandhi disappointed with India’s lack of backup plan
Apart from the fact that he has picked inexperienced fast bowlers, what makes him more surprised is that all these players are part of Gambhir’s playing eleven; So, if any of them gets injured, the best possible replacement available is Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is not even a seamer to bowl 10 overs of a spell.
“Suppose that on the eve of the game, one of the three fast players gets injured or becomes unwell. Then who will you play?”
“First of all you don’t have enough (ODI cricket) experience in your fast bowling group, and then you may be forced to include (seamer all-rounder) Nitish Kumar Reddy, who will neither bat in the top six nor give you too many overs with the ball. The presence of an experienced guy like Siraj could have seriously helped in such a situation,” he said.
Harbhajan Singh had already criticized BCCI for the lack of experience in the Indian pace deck
Apart from Gandhi, even former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh had felt that the Indian selectors had been biased as they did not pick a player like Mohammed Shami. He believes that resting Bumrah should have given India the experience of Mohammed Shami, who was the leading wicket-taker for India in ICC ODI events in previous years.
Even Harbhajan Singh said that in England, even without Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj was brilliant for India, and in the shorter formats, India also need bowlers who can win them matches. He also commented that India should have more wicket-taking spinners with Kuldeep Yadav.
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