BCCI Welcomes the Pace Brigade of Siraj-Thampi-Unadkat
Published - 19 Dec 2017, 09:07 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:01 AM
Team India has been on a roll across all three formats of the game in the last couple of years or so and has won almost everything that has come their way. Following yet another ODI series victory against the Sri Lankans, the Men in Blue are all set to fight it out in the three-match T20I series which might be the only opportunity for the Islanders to avenge their Test and ODI series defeats.
The Lankans have defeated Australia and South Africa in T20I series in their den in the last couple of years, and their only significance of chance of winning a series in India will be the shortest format of the game. Meanwhile, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been rested for the series to keep him match fit for the tour of South Africa.
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There is some surprise inclusion in the Indian squad for the T20I series with the likes of Basil Thampi receiving his maiden national call-up. Mohammad Siraj who had a pretty lacklustre debut match against the Kiwis retained his place in the team while left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat who was sensational for the Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2017 IPL also made a comeback.
The official BCCI twitter handle shared a video of the trio of Thampi, Siraj and Unadkat bowling in the nets to the likes of Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni. The caption in the video read, “Say hello to our new pace attack comprising @JUnadkat, Mohammed Siraj and Basil Thampi. #TeamIndia #INDvSL”.
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— BCCI (@BCCI) D<!---->e<!---->c<!---->e<!---->m<!---->b<!---->e<!---->r<!----> <!---->1<!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->1<!---->7
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It will be a big opportunity for the trio to impress the national selectors to stay with them for future tours. Siraj needs to pull up his socks and start performing or else he might be like the Joginder Sharma and the Manpreet Gony who fizzled out without performing much in the international circuit.
Meanwhile, the Men in Blue will make the firm favourites to clinch yet another series, but for the first time in the tour, they can be challenged by the visitors. They were challenged in the Test and the ODI series but a realistic chance of Sri Lanka winning a series in India will be in the shortest format of the game.
