Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar wants the Indian team management to drop Mohammed Siraj for the second Test match against England. Siraj returned with figures of 2-122 in the first innings of the series opener at Leeds, Headingley whereas he went wicketless in the second dig.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers in the first innings as he returned with impressive figures of 5-83 in the first innings. But India’s pack leader didn’t find support from the other end.
As Bumrah is expected to be rested for the second Test, Siraj will be the most experienced Indian pacer in former’s absence.
Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPN Cricinfo, “(Siraj or Krishna?) This is where you’ve got to take some hard calls. It’s easier for me because Siraj is your senior bowler. He bowled his heart out and he had one good spell at Headingley, plus he’s got a body of work, but you’ve got to look at current reality.”
On the other hand, Prasidh Krishna picked five wickets in the opening Test but he was expensive.
“I thought towards the end of the Test match, Prasidh Krishna looked more like a go-to bowler for Shubman Gill to get wickets. So, based on that, I might go with Prasidh Krishna. Will be a hard call, but it’s just based on the current form of Mohammed Siraj compared to Prasidh Krishna and find a way for him to be a little more economical,” he added.
Manjrekar backed Nitish Kumar Reddy and Kuldeep Yadav’s inclusion and added that the think tank can drop Sharul Thakur.
“Not play seamers just because you are in a country where seam works. So, I would drop a seamer and get Kuldeep Yadav in and Nitish Reddy in place of Shardul Thakur.”
Manjrekar added that chief coach Gautam Gambhir might back Washington Sundar ahead of Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI.
“The talk of the other spinner in the side…it’s the confirmation of Gautam Gambhir playing a role in that particular selection because he tends to go that way. Washi instead of Kuldeep Yadav.”
“The kind of advantage he gives a team like India. One – there’s been bazball, and Kuldeep Yadav is not an easy bowler for a lot of the English batters to play that kind of cricket against. Plus, when you have an exceptional wicket-taker. If he gets you four wickets, that’s almost 150 runs minus of the opposition score. He actually will make a difference on the field,” he added.
The second Test match between India and England will be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham from July 2nd onwards.
