Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has slammed team management over Mohammed Siraj’s handling after the opening ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, on Wednesday.
Siraj didn’t play the series opener against the Kiwis as Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi Dar and Gurnoor Brar were preferred ahead of him.
Siraj also played a solitary ODI out of the three games against the West Indies and returned with figures of 1-48 in eight overs he bowled.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “What are we doing with Mohammed Siraj? Please address that question. He is not a novice fast bowler. He has been playing for a long time. He has been a force in white-ball cricket, not just a time pass. But in the last 35 months, believe it or not, he has played only 10 matches. In the last 24 months, he has played only seven matches.”
Chopra believes Siraj hasn’t received a lot of chances in the ODI format since former Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said in the presser that the fast bowler isn’t very effective with the old ball.
“A long time ago, when Rohit Sharma was the captain, he said in a press conference that Siraj’s penetration with the old ball reduces. And that seems to have had such a big impact. This is not working out really well in my opinion. India decided to play four fast bowlers [in Auckland]. Bumrah and Prasidh are not there. Still, there was no place for Siraj. He has become the seventh alternative.”
Siraj has scalped 77 wickets in 51 ODI matches at an average of 25.67.
The second ODI between India and New Zealand will be played at the Hnry Stadium, Wellington, on Saturday.
