Is Mohammed Siraj playing today’s IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test?
Team India made a bold move by leaving pacer Mohammed Siraj for the must-win second Test against New Zealand in Pune. After their shocking defeat in the opening Test at Bengaluru, the Pune wicket is likely to be favorable to the spinners.
Yet, India went with two pacers and three spinners, replacing Siraj with the impressive Akash Deep.
Skipper Rohit Sharma confirmed Siraj missing out along with the other changes at the toss.
"When you play a Test match like that, the first session didn't go our way. But we batted well in the second innings. We take a lot of positives from that and see how we can turn things around here. Always want to find ways to get back into the Test match when you're behind. That's what we did. Pitch is a little drier, yes. We do understand how important the first 10 overs are. Three changes - Siraj, KL and Kuldeep miss out. Akash Deep, Washington and Gill come in," he said.
Despite the Bengaluru track assisting pacers, Siraj endured a disappointing outing and finished with match figures of 2/100.
Meanwhile, his replacement Akash Deep has been in impressive form since debuting earlier this year. The Bengal pacer has picked up eight wickets in three Tests at an average of 23.12.
Mohammed Siraj missed a Test for India at the start of the England series
Mohammed Siraj has been a mainstay in the Indian Test lineup, having played the last six red-ball outings.
The 30-year-old last warmed the benches in the second England Test earlier this year in Visakhapatnam after India's surprising loss in the opener in Hyderabad.
Yet, Siraj's form has been iffy this year since his brilliant six-wicket haul in his first bowling stint of the year in South Africa. The right-arm pacer has picked up only 13 wickets in his next 15 innings, including nine wicketless innings.
Meanwhile, Team India could lose its first home Test series since 2012-13 if it loses one of the next two New Zealand Tests.
Kiwi skipper Tom Latham won a crucial toss and elected to bat first in the second Test at Pune. The visitors won the opening Test by eight wickets after bowling India out for 46 in the first innings.