Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman lauded Mohammed Siraj for his heroics against New Zealand in the ongoing second Test, saying that the pacer should be in the Indian Test playing XI for the tour of South Africa later this month.
After missing the first Test in Kanpur, Mohammed Siraj bowled exceptionally well in the ongoing second Test against New Zealand in Mumbai as he ran through their top-order to leave them tumbling at 17/3 in the first innings.
Siraj removed Will Young for just 4 runs on the very first delivery of his second over in the first innings and then on the last ball of the very same over sent Tom Latham packing for 10 runs.
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If this was not enough, Siraj then in his next over cleaned up Ross Taylor for just 1 run with a peach of a delivery to leave the visitors in all sorts of trouble.
Siraj set the tone for his side as the spinners chipped in to bundle out the visitors for the score of just 62 runs in the first innings.
Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman admitted that head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Virat Kohli will have a selection dilemma about which pacer should play in the Test series in South Africa.
Laxman called Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami as the two obvious choices, but then also backed Mohammed Siraj to be the third pacer in the India Test XI.
"This would be a difficult decision for Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli. It depends on how many fast bowlers will you play. You know that Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are your first and second choices as far as Test cricket is concerned in overseas conditions.
“So, will Mohammed Siraj be number 3 or 4? The way he bowled in Australia and England, and even in the second Test.. for me, he is the number 3,” VVS Laxman said on Star Sports.
Echoing the views of VVS Laxman, Aakash Chopra also backed Mohammed Siraj to be in the playing XI when India tours South Africa.
“I agree (with Laxman). With Kookaburra, you want your bowler to hit the deck hard and get the ball to make a sideways movement, and that is going to happen in South Africa. You may play three fast bowlers or 4, but Siraj needs to be in the XI,” Aakash Chopra said.
Notably, Mohammed Siraj is the highest wicket-taker for India in terms of pacers in Tests this year with 28 wickets in 9 matches.
He ended the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia earlier this year as India's highest wicket-taker with 12 wickets to his name and then also took 14 wickets in England in four Tests.
(Star Sports inputs)
