Is Mohammed Siraj playing today's IND vs BAN Super 8 match of 2024 T20 World Cup?
Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj is not part of the team for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 fixture against Bangladesh at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua on Saturday, June 22. The right-arm bowler had missed out on the previous clash against Afghanistan as well, right after the Men in Blue's Caribbean leg of the tournament commenced.
Siraj was part of the team in all of the group-stage matches as the conditions were conducive to pace bowling. The right-arm pacer thrived in the drop-in pitch in New York along with his peers, to pick up one wicket in three matches, with a brilliant economy of just 5.18.
However, now that the tournament has shifted to the West Indies, Team India have employed a three-spinner approach, which has brought Kuldeep Yadav back into the mix. The left-arm spinner had sat out the group stage, and replaced Mohammed Siraj in the playing XI as the Super 8 began.
With India not compromising on their batting depth, one of the pacers had to make way. With Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh in red-hot form, it was Siraj who had to face the axe.
How does Team India's pace bowling department look without Mohammed Siraj?
With all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the mix along with Bumrah and Arshdeep, Team India are not short of pace bowling options for the contest. Pandya is well capable of coming into the picture at any stage of the innings, if required. His most likely role would be to work around the spinners in the middle overs.
Team India have stuck with the winning combination that secured the comfortable win over Afghanistan recently.
Sharma confirmed the same at the toss after being put into bat first by Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto.
"We wanted to bat and that's what we got. Looks like a good wicket and depends on how much the sun is beating down and making the pitch slow. Important to assess the conditions quickly. We are playing the same team," Rohit Sharma said at the toss.
Bangladesh have named one change to their playing XI. Pacer Taskin Ahmed makes way for Jaker Ali.