BCCI selector angry at Ajit Agarkar over Mohammed Siraj’s ODI snub

Former selector Devang Gandhi has questioned Mohammed Siraj's non-selection for the ODI series against South Africa. He has also pointed out that with just three seamers, India do not even have a backup plan if one of them gets injured.

The Indian team have batted stunningly in the ODI series against South Africa, with Virat Kohli leading the proceedings alongside some valuable contributions from Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Ruturaj Gaikwad. India has posted 350+ targets in both matches of the series after they were sent to bat first.

However, scoring as many runs does not win you matches, as the bowlers have to defend the totals as well, and the inexperienced Indian bowling deck has failed to defend the massive totals. South Africa were unlucky in the first game, which they lost by 17 runs, but then bounced back comprehensively in the second game.

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Former selector questions Mohammed Siraj's snub from ODI series

India have picked a total of three frontline pacers for the South Africa ODI series. Jasprit Bumrah, the seasoned pacer, has been rested from ODIs to relieve him of some workload, as he has been asked to focus on T20Is and Test cricket.

The three players who have been picked are Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Prasidh Krishna, and all three of them combined have not represented India in even 50 ODIs. Hence, the Indian pace deck at times has looked toothless and naive in front of the experienced Protea batters.

After the bizarre loss, Devang Gandhi, the former selector, in a conversation with the Telegraph, has claimed that he cannot find any reason for Mohammed Siraj not playing the series. Had he been rested due to workload, he would not have been playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

“Why is Mohammed Siraj not playing this ODI series, especially after his growth in stature since the England series? Okay, you have rested Jasprit Bumrah because of his workload. Now then, if that’s the reason with Siraj as well, then how is he playing in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy (for Hyderabad)? Does workload management imply you can play domestic cricket but not the international matches?” the former selector told Telegraph India.

Devang Gandhi is frustrated with India's lack of a backup plan

Other than the fact that they have picked inexperienced speedsters, what further amazes them is that all of these players are a part of Gambhir's playing XI; hence, if any of them face an injury, then the best possible replacement available is Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is not even a seamer to bowl those 10 overs of a spell.

“Suppose on the eve of a game, one of the three quicks gets injured or indisposed. Who do you play then?"

"You don’t have enough (ODI cricket) experience in your pace group in the first place, and then you could be forced to include (seamer all-rounder) Nitish Kumar Reddy, who will neither bat in the top six nor give you too many overs with the ball. The presence of an experienced guy like Siraj could seriously have helped in such a situation,” he added.

Harbhajan Singh already slammed the BCCI for a lack of experience in the Indian pace deck

Other than Gandhi, even former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh had felt that Indian selectors have been biased, as they did not pick the likes of Mohammed Shami. He felt that with Bumrah rested, India should have had the experience of Mohammed Shami, who was India's highest wicket-taker in ICC ODI events over the past years.

Even Harbhajan Singh noted that in England, even without Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj was fantastic for India, and in the shorter formats, India also needs bowlers who can win them matches. He also commented that India should have more wicket-taking spinners alongside Kuldeep Yadav.

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