There has been a struggle for Mohammed Siraj, Indian cricket team fast bowler during the previous months. The cricketer has been underperforming with the ball having taken a disappointing four wickets in the series against Bangladesh and two in the first Test match against New Zealand further inviting reproach. Even before the second Test in Pune, there have been questions directed at the management with many feelings that the erratic Siraj should be replaced by Akash Deep in the playing eleven.
India assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate acknowledged that Siraj is having a “wicket-drought” but on the other hand offered support to the fast bowler.
“Siraj bowled beautifully in the second innings. That hour of Test match cricket on the last morning was really high class,” he explained the situation to reporters before the team’s training session in Pune, ahead of the upcoming match.
“It may be because he was not getting nicks which is always a huge weapon of his especially for lefties when he gets the ball to go across them. There is nothing there to say like he is not bowling well or his rhythm is bad.”
“Perhaps he is just having a bit of a dry spell for wickets. But no concerns again,” he continued.
Ten Doeschate mentioned that the middle order batsmen KL Rahul and Sarfaraz Khan are in a selection tussle for the second Test against New Zealand here even if the head coach Gautam Gambhir is very much interested in giving the former, a fair chance.
Keen on a successful performance after the eight-wicket loss during the Bengaluru Test match, special attention will be on how the team is structured as Washington Sundar has been included in the squad. Both Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are eager to recover from their fitness issues ahead of the match which commences on Thursday.
“This might not sound very good, but as a matter of fact, there is a competition for a place in the team,” ten Doeschate commented on whether Rahul and Sarfaraz were fighting for a place here at the MCA Stadium before the training session in India.
“Obviously, Sarfaraz did well in the previous test match. I went to KL after the last Test (and) asked how many balls do you play at (and) miss at? He did not play at (and) does not miss a single ball and that is what it is when you are not scoring runs.
“I’ve got no worries about KL and his batting, as he is quite okay and mentally in the right frame. But this Test, we are most definitely going to have to squeeze seven guys into six positions, looking at the pitch at the moment and figuring out what is best for the team,” he disclosed.”
