After being given a break from the ODI series versus the West Indies, Mohammed Siraj has taken a flight back to India. After India clinched the two-Test series 1-0, the fast bowler boarded a flight back with the other Test returnees, R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat, and Navdeep Saini.
Siraj was anticipated to lead a pace attack that also included the all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Mukesh, and Umran Malik while Mohammed Shami was given additional rest ahead of a busy schedule.
The Indian Cricket Board, however, decided to rest Siraj for the ODI segment of the West Indies series due to his workload. He has not yet been replaced by anyone in India and that is likely to be the case for all the three ODIs.
India has the Asia Cup from the end of August to the middle of September, followed by a three match home series versus Australia in September, during a hectic time leading up to the domestic ODI World Cup in October.
Siraj and his recent workload
Siraj, who was not selected for the Caribbean T20I tour, took a total of seven wickets across the two Test matches, notably a five-for during the first innings on the flat Port-of-Spain surface that led to a West Indies batting collapse on the fourth day morning. He participated in the World Test Championship final at The Oval versus Australia prior to this tour and picked up five wickets, particularly a four-for in the first innings.
He was also a key player for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2023, where he took 19 wickets in 14 games, the most for RCB, who just missed out on the playoffs spot.
In March 2022, Siraj’s final ODI engagement was a home game against Australia. He concluded the series with five scalps, which was the second most in the series and the most for India. Siraj has taken 43 ODI wickets since the year 2022 began, which is a record for an Indian bowler.
Fans react as Mohammed Siraj flies back home after being given rest ahead of West Indies ODIs:
Mohammed Siraj has been rested for the ODI vs West Indies. [Espn Cricinfo] pic.twitter.com/QxlFB7b5Qj
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 27, 2023
Ye Kya yaar????? poora inexperienced pace attack hoga ab?, but koi n, should be fun (hopefully rain won’t disturb in 2nd and 3rd ODI)?
— Sahil (@virohit4518) July 27, 2023
Siraj should rest in asia cup and odi series vs Australia also so that he's fit & fresh for world cup,
— ` (@kurkureter) July 27, 2023
W great decision others can be tested as well and this would provide much needed rest to Siraj as well
— Vaibhav (@Vaibhav_KY) July 27, 2023
Make or Break series for Umran Mallik..
If he fails here, it’s curtains on his ODI cricket atleast..— SledgeBro (@wrongun_zooter) July 27, 2023
Why you rest your best bowler in ODI and play him in tests in a odi world cup year?
— Ronald Speirs (@KiGi_97) July 27, 2023
Good news . He playing everymatch I thought he need rest.
— Shansun (@Replyontweets16) July 27, 2023
Zero chance of winning Odi series without Siraj.
— Wali Rehman (@walirehman903) July 27, 2023
Good decision he has been playing for such a long time without break
— Rezwan Ahmed (@rezwanbd0) July 27, 2023
He's too good for Waste Indies. He should take rest indeed.
— Mission World Cup 23 (@rohancric947) July 27, 2023
Test me rest krana chahiye tha to usme nhi kraya aur abhi ODI Worldcup pass me hai to usme rest kra diya…..Dravid kya hi coach hai?
— tauseef? (@pascal_ak_) July 27, 2023
Get ready to get Destroyed by West Indies batting line-up then ?
Siraj was the only hope as pacer— Anubhav K??? (@Anubhav_Memerz) July 27, 2023
