Mohammed Siraj Set to Feature for Hyderabad in Upcoming Ranji Trophy Clash Against Vidarbha
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Synopsis
As the Ranji Trophy's second phase begins on January 23, the Hyderabad Cricket Association announced that fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj may play against Vidarbha on January 30. Siraj's recent absence from international games raises questions, but his return could bolster Hyderabad's performance.
Key Takeaways
- Mohammed Siraj likely to join Hyderabad for Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha.
- Hyderabad is currently sixth in the Elite Group B standings.
- Jagan Mohan Rao is optimistic about Siraj's availability.
- Siraj has been a key performer in ODIs, with 71 wickets since 2022.
- New BCCI policy encourages domestic participation among players.
New Delhi, Jan 19 (NationPress) With the second phase of the Ranji Trophy commencing on January 23, the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has announced that India fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj is expected to participate in the match against Vidarbha on January 30.
Currently, in the Elite Group B standings of the Ranji Trophy, Hyderabad holds the sixth position with a total of nine points from five matches. They will continue their Ranji Trophy journey by hosting second-placed Himachal Pradesh at home on January 23.
Jagan Mohan Rao, the President of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), informed IANS that the reason for Siraj's absence from the January 23 match is unclear. However, he expressed optimism about Siraj joining the team for the subsequent Ranji Trophy match against the league leaders Vidarbha, set to begin on January 30 in Nagpur.
Notably, Siraj has not been selected for India's squad for the three ODIs against England and the ICC Champions Trophy. From 2022 to 2024, he has taken 71 wickets in ODIs at an impressive average of just 22.97, making him the leading Indian pacer during this timeframe.
In Siraj's absence, the Indian team has called up left-arm fast-bowler Arshdeep Singh, along with Jasprit Bumrah (subject to fitness), Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya, and Harshit Rana (only for the England ODIs). Recently, Siraj collected 20 wickets at an average of 31.15 across all five Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
As the next round of the Ranji Trophy approaches, notable Indian players such as Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra), Rishabh Pant (Delhi), Shubman Gill (Punjab), Rohit Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal (both Mumbai) are set to play for their respective state teams, while KL Rahul and Virat Kohli will miss out due to various injuries.
This influx of Indian players in the Ranji Trophy follows the BCCI's implementation of a new 10-point policy document, which mandates participation in domestic cricket, warning that non-compliance could influence international selections and contract renewals.
