Mohammed Siraj has come under scanner for his below-par showing during India’s eight-wicket defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the first Test match in Bengaluru.

The right-arm quick managed to pick only two wickets in the series opener. In particular, his struggle in the second innings has been concerning for India. He has failed to claim a wicket in the second innings over the past seven Test matches.

On Day 5 of the first Test, Jasprit Bumrah dismissed openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway to build pressure on New Zealand during the 107-run chase but Siraj leaked runs from the other end as the Kiwis overhauled the target in 27.4 overs.

Ahead of the second Test, however, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate expressed his confidence in Siraj to come good, suggesting that it is just a dry period for the pacer.

“Siraj bowled beautifully in the second innings. That hour of Test match cricket on the last morning was really high quality,” ten Doeschate said in a pre-match presser.

“It maybe wasn’t a nicking wicket, which is obviously his big strength, particularly to left-handers when he moves the ball across. There’s nothing there to say like he’s not bowling well or his rhythm is not good. Maybe he’s just going through a little bit of a wicket drought. But no concerns again,” he added.

As for what the Indian pacers need to do in the second Test, the assistant coach said they would need to play to the conditions.

“I don’t think specifically to fast bowlers and when the ball is new, but playing a bit more to conditions is something we want to work on,” he stated.

“Obviously, that first innings was ridiculously tough with the ball seaming around. There will be other times when fast bowling is the right option to go after it,” he further remarked.

Having lost the opening Test by eight wickets, Team India are trailing 0-1 in the three-match Test series against New Zealand. The hosts are facing a must win situation in the second Test to save the series.

On Sunday (October 20), the selectors added spin all-rounder Washington Sundar to the Indian Test squad. This inclusion is curious given that the home team already has Axar Patel as the fourth spinner in addition to R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.

Ryan ten Doeschate clarified that the selection of Sundar was "no desperate measure" but to add a bowling option who would take the ball away from the Kiwis left-handers.

"We've had Washy around the white-ball squad for a while and [we] like the way he operates. And it's also nice to see guys are getting rewarded for Ranji Trophy performances as well. So hopefully that sends a good message out to the other guys and it's certainly not a desperate measure. We've certainly got a lot of faith in the spinners that we have, and we just want to make sure we're absolutely prepared for the conditions and if that does mean taking the ball away from the left-hander, we want that option," the Dutchman explained.

The second Test is slated to take place at the MCA Stadium in Pune from October 24.