India need to have talk with ‘under pressure’ Mohammed Siraj ahead of second Test: Saba Karim

Saba Karim and Mohammad Siraj. (Source – Twitter/X)

Mohammed Siraj didn’t have a great outing in the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The hosts lost the match by eight wickets even after producing a spirited fightback with the bat in the second innings.

In India’s previous Test series against Bangladesh, they played with three pacers and two spinners in their playing XI. However, against the Kiwis, they decided to shuffle things around and opted for three spinners and two seamers. The in-form Akash Deep had to make way for Kuldeep Yadav as Mohammed Siraj held onto his spot despite his dismal outing against Bangladesh. However, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) seamer failed to repay the trust shown in him.

In the first innings, Siraj picked up the wickets of Daryl Mitchell and Tim Southee but conceded runs at an economy rate of 4.70. Meanwhile, in New Zealand’s second innings, the speedster bowled economically but didn’t pose much of a challenge to the batters. From the other end, however, Jasprit Bumrah made the batters dance to his tunes and also accounted for two wickets.

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Former India cricketer Saba Karim opined that Siraj might be under some sort of pressure and the management needs to talk to him ahead of the second Test, which begins on Thursday, October 24, in Pune.

“I reckon that Mohammed Siraj may be under some kind of pressure and I’m sure they will have a discussion before they pick the XI for the next test match. Because as a front-line seam bowler in a Test match, you are expected to pick wickets with the new ball and also come back and bowl well with the second new ball. To that extent, I don’t think that Siraj has delivered and more so now, with Akash coming in and picking some early wickets. Plus Akash has got enough experience of bowling on such tracks in Indian conditions because he’s been around for a number of years for for Bengal. So you would look to have somebody on your side who has the experience of bowling on such tracks, even though the tracks have been lifeless,” Saba Karim said.

New Zealand win a Test match in India after 36 years

New Zealand seamers set things up in the morning session on Day 2 after the first day’s play was washed out due to rain. India were bowled out for 46, their lowest score in Asia. New Zealand made 402 in their first innings on the back of Rachin Ravindra’s exhilarating ton. India produced a solid batting effort in the second innings after Sarfaraz Khan scored his maiden Test ton.

The hosts were eventually bowled out for 462, giving the Blackcaps a 107-run target to chase down. Tom Latham and Devon Conway were the only two batters dismissed in the fourth innings before the tourists romped home.

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This turned out to be New Zealand’s first win in India since 1988. They have won only three out of the 37 matches they have played on Indian soil.