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In a bold call that has stirred discussions in cricket circles, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has suggested that fast bowler Mohammed Siraj should be left out of the Indian team for the upcoming 5th Test against Australia. Following a string of performances that Gavaskar deems underwhelming, this advice comes at a critical juncture in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
Mohammed Siraj’s disappointing numbers
Siraj has been one of India’s key fast bowlers in this tour, but his recent outings have been less than satisfactory. In the Melbourne Test, he conceded 122 runs at an economy rate of 5.30 in just 23 overs, highlighting a lack of control and effectiveness with the new ball. Throughout the series, his economy rate of 4.07 has been the highest among the frontline pacers of both teams, suggesting a need for recalibration in his approach. He has taken 13 wickets so far with the help of only one 4-fer.
Sunil Gavaskar explains why Siraj should be dropped from the 5th Test
Gavaskar’s assessment was shared in the aftermath of the second day of 4th Test in Melbourne, where Siraj’s performance was notably lackluster. Gavaskar pointed out that Siraj’s recent performances have not met the expectations set for him, especially considering the pitches in Australia which are known to assist pace bowlers. His inability to provide adequate support to the likes of Jasprit Bumrah has been a concern.
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The former captain emphasized the importance of straightforward communication with players. By suggesting that Siraj should be told exactly why he’s being dropped, Gavaskar advocated for a culture of transparency which he believes is vital for growth and improvement. He wasn’t advocating for resting Siraj in the traditional sense but rather for dropping him based on merit.
“I think Siraj, perhaps, needs a little bit of a break. In the sense that, I am not saying a break, he needs to be told that he is left out of the team for non-performance. There has to be a situation where you can’t beat around the bush. You need to be brutally upfront and say ‘look, your performance has not been up to scratch and therefore you are being dropped’. When you start talking about ‘rest’, players get wrong ideas. They feel they don’t need to up their game,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
“But I think Siraj needs to be told ‘look, you are not bowling as well as we expected you to on pitches that have been helpful’. That is something that needs to be told. If you want to make two changes. Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana to support Jasprit Bumrah. By all means, do that,” he added.
