Rohit: Siraj Less Effective Without New Ball

Mumbai, Jan 18 (NationPress) A crucial observation stemming from India’s roster for the ODIs against England and the Champions Trophy was the omission of paceman Mohammed Siraj. Captain Rohit Sharma indicated that Siraj's effectiveness diminishes slightly when he is not given the new ball.

Rohit further noted that Siraj, who has accumulated 71 ODI wickets in 44 matches—highlighted by an impressive six-wicket haul in the 2023 Asia Cup final—was not assigned a specific role in the team, especially with uncertainties surrounding Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness.

In Siraj's stead, left-arm bowler Arshdeep Singh has been selected after emerging as the top wicket-taker in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He joins the fast-bowling lineup for the upcoming 50-over matches alongside Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Hardik Pandya.

“This decision was made after careful consideration. We are uncertain about Bumrah's participation, so we sought someone capable of bowling with the new ball and at the end of the innings. Hence, we opted for Arshdeep for the backend role. Shami has demonstrated his prowess with the new ball,” Rohit explained.

“We believe that Siraj’s effectiveness is somewhat reduced when he isn't bowling with the new ball. We deliberated on this extensively since we are limiting ourselves to three seamers, wanting to include all-rounders as well. It's unfortunate that he has to miss out.”

“However, we had no alternative but to select players who can fulfill specific roles. I truly believe we have bowlers capable of performing effectively with the new ball, in the middle overs, as well as at the end, covering all aspects of the game. With these three bowlers, we feel confident in our strategy,” Rohit stated during the press conference in Mumbai following the squad announcement.

In his eight ODIs, Arshdeep has claimed 20 wickets, providing variety with his left-arm angles and deliveries. For the ODI series against England, India has also included seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana, with Rohit likening his selection to that of young left-handed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“Though Arshdeep hasn't played many ODIs, he has been part of the white-ball circuit for quite some time. I wouldn't label him as inexperienced. He has handled challenging overs, played T20Is, and managed high-pressure situations effectively. Shami is a veteran in white-ball cricket, and his performance in the World Cup was magnificent to witness.”

“With Harshit, we were looking for something different. He has demonstrated his potential. We must support him. While statistics are important, consider Jaiswal. We selected him based on his performance over the last 6–8 months. Despite not having played an ODI yet, we chose him because he has exhibited promise.”

“At times, we have to make these choices, which means some players will unfortunately miss out. We cannot satisfy everyone. It’s a tough decision, but it was necessary to create the best team and the most effective squad capable of winning under varying circumstances,” Rohit added.

Shami returns to the 50-over setup after last featuring in the 2023 ODI World Cup, where he secured 24 wickets, becoming the tournament's leading wicket-taker. An Achilles injury requiring surgery sidelined him for nearly a year before he made a competitive return in the fifth round of the Ranji Trophy in Indore last year.

While Shami was unavailable for the Test series in Australia due to knee swelling, he has been included for the five T20Is against England, starting on January 22 in Kolkata. “The quality he brings is undeniable. Including him in T20Is was precisely to reintegrate him into international cricket and expose him to pressure situations, even in a 20-over format,” explained chief selector Ajit Agarkar.

“High intensity is crucial, and we want him to regain his pace before the ODIs commence. His quality is evident. If he is fit, he will always be part of the conversation. We hope he performs well in these matches, ensuring he is at 100% by the time the Champions Trophy arrives,” he added.