IND vs SL: Twitter Reacts As Mohammed Siraj Excluded From Playing XI For 1st Test Against Sri Lanka
Indian pace bowler Mohammed Siraj was surprisingly left out of the Indian playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka. The Test marks Lanka’s 300th Test and also Virat Kohli’s 100th Test for India.
At the toss, Rohit Sharma confirmed that India will be playing with three spinners and two pacers. Although it is expected considering that the surfaces in the subcontinent generally favor the slower bowlers, Siraj’s exclusion certainly took people aback.
He was brilliant at home against New Zealand, especially with the new ball. However, the management favored the two senior-most pacers in the team, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami, to accompany the three spinners, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jayant Yadav.
The surface in Mohali also has a bit of grass on it, as per the pitch report from Russell Arnold and Deep Dasgupta. This further begs the question as to why Siraj wasn’t included. “There is a bit of grass in the back of a length area, which makes this a good Test pitch,” the duo said.
Notably, the two slots left open by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were filled by Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer. They have big shoes to fill in and home conditions will be the ideal place to start for the duo.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Mohammed Siraj’s exclusion from first Test:
First Siraj got injured in NZ T20Is and didn't get his place back. Now Shubman Gill got injured and didn't get his place back. Under Kohli Rahane got injured and got his place back even after Nair got 300.
Consistency ✔️
Clarity ✔️
Tactical Acumen ✔️— IndianLanger (@IndianLanger) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
The real reason why Siraj is benched ? p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->E<!---->l<!---->u<!---->q<!---->D<!---->o<!---->J<!---->A<!---->O<!---->D
— Majnu Bhai (@TenShagger) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Siraj Deserve better and better ?
He deserves in playing 11He didn't get place in t20 now test unbelievable ? #<!---->s<!---->i<!---->r<!---->a<!---->jh<!---->t<!---->t<!---->p<!---->s<!---->:<!---->/<!---->/<!---->t<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->/<!---->m<!---->F<!---->R<!---->0<!---->T<!---->P<!---->G<!---->z<!---->Z<!---->u p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->M<!---->7<!---->V<!---->X<!---->V<!---->i<!---->Z<!---->P<!---->E<!---->7
— Shamsi (MSH) (@Shamsihaidri1) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
MADARCHOD #<!---->J<!---->A<!---->M<!---->M<!---->Y<!---->B<!---->A<!---->L<!---->L . Vihari , Iyer and Mayank all are playing and not Shubman Gill . FFS No Mohammad Siraj as well . Get this RSS madarchod out of my team
— . (@gillfan_) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
No Gill, no Siraj. Sanghi Dravid's agenda is clear (with Shah's child watching on).
— Maganlal (@Flemster25) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Siraj is in the bubble since Dec 2021 and has played only 6 matches out of 16, mostly the dead rubber games. Now he isn't in the test 11. Atleast drop him from the squad if you ain't playing him.
This bio bubble fatigue surely gonna affect him in the IPL…..
— Ritesh (@Riteshsh108) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Siraj not making the XI today makes sense, I don't think the same for the LOI games tho but India have played a similar template offlate with two pacers and three spinners in Tests and they were going to continue. Ofc, Shami and Bumrah still ahead in this format when fit.
— Prashanth S (@ps_it_is) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Siraj have been in bubble now for more than 3 weeks and have played only one dead rubber game, now he isn't even in test 11. Atleast drop him from the squad if you ain't playing him ??
— Monika (@Lostt_Soulll) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Jayant Yadav is an unbelievably ordinary bowler. Should have picked Siraj ahead of him man, this is such a defensive decision FFS.
— yganalytics (@yganalytics) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
Not playing Shubman is understandable. Iyer in limited opportunity hasn't done any bad. While I'm amazed what's the point of playing Jayant Yadav when you already have Ash – Jadeja. Siraj deserves this opportunity more than anyone. India should had gone with 3 seamers
— Jay Sharma ? (@jsharmasays) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
I would have played Shami Umesh and Siraj with Ashwin Jaddu as only spinners. But with Bumrah as Vc, honestly its like shooting in their own foot. And Umesh ahead of Jayant atleast should have been a no brainer.
— BALAJI (@deep_extracover) M<!---->a<!---->r<!---->c<!---->h<!----> <!---->4<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->2
