3 reasons why RCB must recall Mohammed Siraj to their playing XI for IPL 2024 clash vs KKR
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Mohammed Siraj was surprisingly dropped for the franchise's defeat to the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the record contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The makeshift bowling unit faced the wrath of Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and others to concede the highest total in Indian Premier League (IPL) history.
Siraj has usually been influential with the new ball, but he has struggled across all fronts this season so far. The right-arm pacer, who came into IPL in reasonably good form, has only taken four wickets in seven matches at an average of 57.25 and an economy of 10.41. These are concerning numbers for RCB as well as his aspirations to make it to Team India's playing XI in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Siraj has always been a constant part of the RCB setup, even during his woeful 2022 campaign, where he ended with only nine wickets. During that season, he ended with an average of 57.11 and an economy of 10.08, eerily similar to the numbers he is presenting currently.
RCB's fate will be sealed if they lose to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), if not already. On that note, let us take a look at three reasons why RCB must recall Mohammed Siraj to their playing XI.
#1 RCB's pace unit lives and dies with Mohammed Siraj
Barring a couple of uncapped pacers in the squad, RCB have tried and tested every possible combination to forge a pace attack that can deliver. However, it has not worked out for the team.
Yash Dayal has looked promising at times, but the overseas pace trio of Lockie Ferguson, Alzarri Joseph, and Reece Topley have just been downright abysmal. Even last season, when RCB had credible pacers like Josh Hazlewood and Harshal Patel, it was Siraj who set the tempo as the spearhead with the new ball, particularly at the Chinnaswamy.
With the bowling unit considerably weakened after the 2024 mini-auction, RCB needed Siraj more than ever. Even though he has not been able to step up as a spearhead, even an off-rhythm Siraj warrants a place in the current RCB bowling unit given the low standards set by others.
#2 RCB have no choice but to trust their strongest XI at this stage
Teams often desire to stick with a particularly playing XI that they trust, handing players a long rope. However, in RCB's case, based on the poor returns by a majority of players, with so many candidates being out-of-sync simultaneously, changes were warranted.
However, much to RCB's dismay, none of those changes have worked so far. At the halfway stage of the tournament, the team have potentially done almost everything possible from a team combination and personnel point of view. So, where does that leave them?
They can only go back to their strongest possible playing XI, which undoubtedly includes Siraj, at this stage of the season, and hope that being world-class players, they will eventually return to their best.
#3 Siraj has an excellent record against Narine and Iyer
RCB have to live with other teams' wrath over being the side that restored Narine the batter. It was at the Chinnaswamy where the left-handed batter slammed 47 runs off 22 balls and began a prolific run that is still well and truly alive. Now, the least RCB can do, for others' sake and theirs, is to put a dent in Narine's scoring spree.
During the return fixture earlier this season, Siraj was clobbered by Phil Salt, but had managed to keep Narine under check. In fact, the right-arm pacer has a credible record against the Caribbean ace, conceding only 12 runs off 11 deliveries, while dismissing him twice. As a result, he is RCB's best bet against Narine in the upcoming clash.
Furthermore, Siraj also boasts a dominant record against KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer. The pacer has restricted the right-handed batter to 39 runs off 33 deliveries in nine matches, while dismissing him twice as well.