IND vs NZ 2021: I'd Bring Mohammed Siraj In For Ishant Sharma - Steve Harmison

Former England pacer Steve Harmison found it surprising that the Indian team persisted with Ishant Sharma despite how he performed in the recent tour of England. He mentioned that Mohammed Siraj would be the best replacement for the senior pacer.

Ahead of the second Test that is set to begin in Mumbai, Harmison reckoned India needs to drop Ishant, who has ‘below-par in the first Test in Kanpur.

“For me, both seamers were also below par in the first Test match, for the life of me I don’t understand how Ishant Sharma got another game of Test cricket after what he did in England, so for me, I’d bring [Mohammed] Siraj in for him,” Harmison told talkSPORT.

Lots of questions about Rahane and Pujara, they both might make way – Steve Harmison

Steve Harmison went on to mention that it’s likely that the experienced duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara will be left out of the playing XI for the second Test. With Virat Kohli set to return to the fold for the second game and Shreyas Iyer performing excellently in the first Test, all signs do point to the exclusion of either Rahane or Pujara.

“I think they both make way, there’s lots of questions about Rahane and Pujara, they both might make way. I think Suryakumar Yadav, plays in Mumbai for Mumbai Indians. He was brought into the squad a replacement for KL Rahul, I think they both [Rahane and Pujara] looked as if they were done, they both walked off the field in that first innings as they knew it may be the last time they walk off the field for India.“

“Pujara especially, 39 innings without a hundred is a long time for a player to bat in the top six and still warrant a place in that great Indian side. There’s a lot of players missing at the moment and you might just see another debutant or player who hasn’t played a lot of international cricket,” Harmison further added.

The first Test ended in a thrilling Day 5 draw as New Zealand hung on to a solitary wicket and managed to scrape a draw in the final few minutes.

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