Delhi: Indian fast bowler Mohammad Siraj will now be seen playing in Ranji Trophy matches. Siraj, who was not included in the Indian ODI squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, may miss the match between Hyderabad and Himachal Pradesh on January 23. The reason behind this is their workload management. But, Siraj can play in the last group match of Hyderabad team against Vidarbha next week.
Hyderabad status
Hyderabad team is currently at sixth place in Group B. The team has so far registered only one win in five matches, while two matches were drawn.
An official of the Hyderabad Cricket Association said, “His workload is a concern, so he will not play in the first match. But, there is a possibility that he will be a part of the team in the final match against Vidarbha.”
Why was he not selected in the Champions Trophy?
Siraj has been the top bowler in the world in ODI rankings. In 2023, he took 47 wickets in the ODI format, out of which 14 wickets came in 11 matches of the World Cup at an economy of 5.68. Since 2022, Siraj has taken 71 wickets in ODIs, which is more than any Indian bowler.
On not including him, captain Rohit Sharma said, “We have chosen a team which has bowlers for both the new ball and death overs. Bumrah’s condition is uncertain, so we chose Arshdeep, who can play a better role in the death overs. Shami performs well with the new ball, but Siraj is not as effective without the new ball. In such a situation, we needed bowlers who could bowl in all three phases.
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