You Need That Youthful Exuberance - MSK Prasad Believes Mohammed Siraj Should Be A Regular In India's Playing XI

Former chief selector MSK Prasad stated that India recently made a mistake by not playing Mohammed Siraj in the first Test against New Zealand. He also went on to imply that there is a necessity for a bowler like Siraj to come in with his energy and bowl fiery spells in a Test match.

India’s pace attack in Tests is one of the best, if not the best, in world cricket at the moment. Two regulars in that are Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami. After the duo, Ishant Sharma is generally the third option but the 33-year-old falls flat on home tracks. In such cases, Siraj would be the best option for India, as per Prasad.

“I think he is the third in the order and he is giving a run for the money for the 1st and 2nd slots (in the pace attack) also with the kind of performances he has put in. In all fairness, it will be Bumrah, Shami and Siraj will be the third pacer by default.”

“Even the Indian team missed a trick by not playing in the first Test match (against New Zealand in Kanpur). Now, having two seniors at home is a little difficult. You could have gone with Siraj and Ishant or Siraj and Umesh. You need that youthful exuberance. I feel that was a mistake for the Kanpur Test,” Prasad mentioned.

MSK Prasad feels the middle-order slot is a tossup between Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari

Shreyas Iyer’s recent performance in the 2-match Test series against New Zealand has rightfully earned him a slot in India’s squad for the South Africa tour. Hanuma Vihari is already in South Africa playing for India A and the middle-order should be fitted with either of these two, as per MSK Prasad.

“Hanuma Vihari is a guy who is solid in his technique. Similarly, Shreyas Iyer is someone who can bring in a little aggression. So it all depends on the batting order and what kind of role that the team management expects of their middle-order batter. Based on that, one of them can be given an opportunity,” Prasad added.

The Indian team will likely depart to Johannesburg on December 16, ten days before the start of the first Test against South Africa.

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