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Is there any rift between the Indian team management and the national team selectors? Former India National Cricket Team batter Mohammad Kaif raised this serious question amid the India vs New Zealand ODI series. Kaif sensed something was wrong inside the team as they did not consider Mohammed Siraj for the 1st ODI match.
India began the five-match ODI series, defeating New Zealand by five wickets in a low-scoring match at Eden Park. For the match, the Men in Blue picked four pacers: Auqib Nabi, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, and Anshul Kamboj, leaving Mohammed Siraj on the bench.
Rift between team management and selectors?
Why did the team leave a proven fast bowler like Mohammed Siraj on the bench? That's been a topic in Kaif's recent YouTube video.
Mohammed Siraj, who mostly featured for India in Tests recently, has been included in the ODI squad for the ODI series in New Zealand. The former emphasized that if Siraj is with the team, he deserves to play in the 50-over games as well.
"If they consider Siraj only for Tests, why is he being picked in the squad? Is there no coordination between the selectors and management, then? If there is no coordination, then this is bad. If Siraj is in the squad, he has to play. It is unfair to him if he is there and not playing," opined Mohammad Kaif.
Mohammad Kaif questions the snub of Mohammed Siraj from India's ODI playing XI
Kaif, in the same YouTube video,o mentioned that why the team management kept Mohammed Siraj on the sideline during the first ODI match was beyond his understanding. While Kaif was trying to find out a suitable reason for keeping Mohammed Siraj outside the playing XI, Kaif highlighted the fact that the Indian team management tends to maintain extra batting power in the line-up.
As Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, and Anshul Kamboj have some batting skills, maybe only because of that the team management did not consider Siraj for the match in Auckland.
"I am a little unhappy that Siraj is not getting chances. He is a proven bowler. Is the theory to try new bowlers for the next six months and look at the new lot? I don't know. But Siraj not playing is beyond my understanding. It is not good if they have dropped Siraj, thinking Anshul, Gurnoor, and Nabi can bat a bit. This has become a trend now. That is why even Kuldeep is not playing," Kaif expressed.
They are setting a wrong trend: Mohammad Kaif on the Indian team management
Preferring mostly bowlers who have some batting skills is a wrong trend set by the Indian team management, as Mohammad Kaif opined. He further explained that the team management might have the fear that the top and middle order could collapse; that's why the head coach Gautam Gambhir-led team management is prioritising the batting options.
"I think there is some fear that if there is a top-order collapse and Rohit and Kohli do not fire, which is why they are playing Anshul, Gurnoor, and Nabi for batting depth. I do not understand any other reason why Siraj is not playing. If he is in the squad, it means he is fit and available," Mohammad Kaif continued.
"I think batting is the only reason. But I feel they are setting a wrong trend. If these guys are proven bowlers, it raises questions about why they are not getting a chance, even in the absence of Bumrah and Hardik. Siraj and Kuldeep are facing issues due to not having batting skills," he added.
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