Despite all the noise about Mohammed Siraj being a phenomenal talent, recent times have been very unkind to the exciting RCB fast-bowler. Back in the T20 World Cup, he wasn’t that great either and his modest returns have now started posing serious questions about the Hyderabadi quick. Fans and experts believe that somehow Siraj is not hitting the right chord and that is denting his numbers while also damaging India’s prospect.
As reports go, Akash Deep might just be touted as the favourite to replace his RCB teammate, Mohammed Siraj in the upcoming Test against New Zealand. In the last three Tests that he has played, featuring against Bangladesh and New Zealand, he has managed six wickets overall. With Akash Deep being touted as the next big thing with the red ball in his hands, here are three reasons why India should drop Siraj in the next Test.
#1 Siraj is proving to be toothless in the sub-continent conditions
One of Siraj’s key strengths in Test cricket is bowling with the new ball. However, somehow he has failed to exploit the seam and the discipline that he has racked up in the last few outing have been very defensive instead of the wicket-taking approach that he always had. His lateral movement has also been almost negligible, thereby making life a lot easier for the quickster.
#2 Drop in body language
Siraj thrives on fierce competition and when challenged, he can actually unleash the inner beast. And yet somehow, the lack of challenges has rendered him ineffective in the last few outings. His entire body language has been low and as he is undergoing one of the rough patches in his career, somehow it feels that he is giving up. Unless, he yanks the reins back, it would only be a challenge that will go away from him.
#3 Most important – Akash Deep has been a gamechanger
Akash Deep has been in sensational touch with the new ball in Test cricket. He can step up when and wherever required and he hunts in patches.
Whenever, Akash Deep gets a wicket, he always gets in pairs. Even though that has just been a coincidence, yet Akash Deep’s brutal pace makes him a standout amongst the others and he is being tipped to be a forerunner of the Indian bowling battery Down Under. So this can be a great dress rehearsal for him.
