Sunil Gavaskar has backed India’s decision to leave Mohammed Siraj out of the playing XI for the New Zealand ODIs, warning the team management against picking sides with the 2027 World Cup in mind.
Gavaskar was speaking on Sony Sports during the third ODI in Hamilton on Tuesday, after Siraj was again left out of the XI for a match that was eventually abandoned without a ball being bowled. India retained the same side that had won the first two games of the series, and Gavaskar was asked whether Siraj, who has not played in any of the three ODIs so far, remained part of India’s plans for the 2027 World Cup in South Africa.
The former India captain was blunt in his reply. “Firstly, we are making the mistake that happens in England always,” he said. “If England is going to Australia to play the Ashes that winter, they think only about the Ashes and lose the matches that are played in their summer. We have to think about what we need now. South Africa will be thought about when it’s time for that.”
Gavaskar added that India should focus on the series in front of them rather than planning more than a year ahead. “You have won the T20 series, and if you win this series, you will go into the Test matches with great confidence. There is one more year left for South Africa. We shouldn’t think about whether Siraj or Bumrah should be there. We are thinking too far ahead. I know that he is going for Test match preparation after this match, but our plan is to disturb the team as little as possible,” he said.
Siraj was named in India’s ODI squad for all five matches of the series, but he has not featured in any of the first three, with Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh preferred as the pace options. He will now travel to Wellington on Wednesday, November 11, along with Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Kamboj, Kuldeep Yadav, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak and bowling coach Morne Morkel, to begin preparations for the two-Test series against New Zealand starting on November 19. Siraj warmed up for the Tests by taking four wickets for India A in the second unofficial Test against New Zealand A.
India lead the ODI series 2-0 after the Hamilton washout and cannot lose it, with Shreyas Iyer set to captain the side in the final two games at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 13 and 15.
Related:
- Shreyas Iyer to Captain India in Final Two New Zealand ODIs as Gill, Rahul and Kamboj Leave for Test Camp — https://t20star.com/shreyas-iyer-to-captain-india-in-final-two-new-zealand-odis-as-gill-rahul-and-kamboj-leave-for-test-camp/
- Rain Washes Out Hamilton ODI Without a Ball Bowled as India Keep 2-0 Lead and New Zealand’s Home Streak Ends — https://t20star.com/rain-washes-out-hamilton-odi-without-a-ball-bowled-as-india-keep-2-0-lead-and-new-zealands-home-streak-ends/
