Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir believes that fast bowler Mohammed Siraj should be picked ahead of Umesh Yadav in India's Playing XI for the day-night Test against England starting Wednesday (February 24) at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Umesh has been declared fit and named in India’s Test squad for the remaining two Test matches of the ongoing four-match Test series against England at home and is likely to return to the starting XI in the third Test that will be a day-night affair at the world’s largest Motera Stadium.
The right-arm fast bowler missed the final two Tests in Australia due to a hamstring injury as well as the first two Test matches against England and Siraj was given the chances in the second Test, though the young gun could manage only one scalp and 20 runs as the spinners dominated the game in Chennai.
Well, the Motera in Ahmedabad is expected to assist the seamers in the pink-ball Test and Gambhir reckoned if India goes with three seamers, then Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Siraj should be the frontrunner as the former opener doesn’t see Umesh in the playing XI for the crucial third Test in Ahmedabad.
Gambhir said on Star Sports' Cricket Connected show: “I don't see Umesh Yadav in the playing XI. If India has to go with three seamers, it has to be Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj.”
He further explained, “Siraj looks very impressive and the way he bowled in Australia, even the way he bowled in the second Test match, there was nothing for the fast bowlers but the way he was getting the ball to move and the kind of speeds he was clocking, he was very impressive. So, these three seamers according to me will play the pink-ball Test match.
The pink-ball Test match will be a completely different challenge because it is a new stadium, a new wicket. India hasn't played too much of pink-ball Test matches, neither has England, but if the ball starts moving especially under lights, England has the attack to rattle India. So, India needs to play really well.”
Gambhir also said the third Test will be a tricky one for England as India has the quality bowling attack to “trouble and rattle” the tourists most at the new Motera Stadium this week.
He signed off by saying, “England needs to play really well because India has got the fast bowling to actually trouble England. With the kind of batting they [England] have, Ishant Sharma on the verge of playing 100 Test matches, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj looks in very good rhythm plus Ashwin back in form with the bat, and then there is Axar. So, India has got the bowling attack to rattle them.”
