The 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 World Cup-winning former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Team India should have picked Mohammed Siraj in place of Ishant Sharma in the ongoing first Test match between India and England in Chennai.
Despite having proved his prowess in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Mohammed Siraj was not included in the Indian XI for the ongoing first Test-match between India and England.
However, Team India went with veteran pacer Ishant Sharma, who had missed the Australia tour due to an injury, ahead of Siraj who has played only three Tests.
During a video discussion on India's team selection on ESPNCricinfo, Gautam Gambhir was asked the question which read "Would you have gone with Mohammed Siraj instead of the wealth of experience that Ishant Sharma brings with him?"
Replying to which Gambhir said he would’ve gone with Siraj because of Sharma's comparatively less international exposure off late.
“Yes, I would have. Because Ishant has not played any red-ball cricket for a very long time. Straight IPL, then he got injured, then he has played only T20 cricket. And then when you are playing in Chennai conditions can be really tough; the weather can take a toll on you.
And you have to bowl 16-17 overs a day, you don't have a third seamer in your ranks that you can get away with bowling 12-13 overs a day. You might have to bowl 15-16 overs,” Gautam Gambhir told ESPNCricinfo.
Gambhir said that he would've given Ishant Sharma more time at the nets to regain fitness and get him prepared for the pink-ball Test where India might play three seamers.
"Plus getting that rhythm as well. It's always easy to bowl in T20 cricket but not in red-ball cricket, where you have to make things happen. So, I would have Ishant bowl a couple of lengthy spells at the nets and regain his bowling fitness and give Siraj a go-ahead.
“You might have to play three seamers for the pink-ball Test in Motera, so you might have to build Ishant for Motera, or for the 2nd Test match and gone with Siraj in the first Test,”
Gambhir further lauded Siraj’s heroics in Australia and said that with the Hyderabadi being fit to bowl lengthy spells he would’ve gone with the latter ahead of Ishant.
"Siraj is coming after such a fabulous tour, and he has bowled those lengthy spells in Australia as well. I know it is tough for Ishant Sharma, but that is why I would have gone with Siraj. Especially when you are going with the two-seamers in the team," he concluded.
The first two Tests of the four-match Test series will be played in Chennai and then both teams will travel to Ahmedabad for the final two Tests.
The third Test, which also happens to be a day-night affair, will be played between February 24-28, the fourth and final match will take place from March 04.
(ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
