In order to manage his workload ahead of the 50 over World Cup to be played in India from October 5 to November 19 this year, the Indian cricket team has decided to send back its fast bowler Mohammed Siraj back home for some much-needed rest, after playing a crucial role in their 1-0 series victory in the Test series against the West Indies.
Mohammed Siraj will not be taking part in the limited-overs series against the West Indies which will start on July 27, Thursday, with the first one-day international.
India and West Indies will play three one-day internationals as well as five T20 internationals during the white-ball series which follows the two match series for Test cricket.
Mohammed Siraj, who played a vital role in India winning the Test series with a five wicket haul against the West Indies, will be returning home along with other Long format players such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, wicket-keeper batsman KS Bharat and fast bowler Navdeep Saini.
With Mohammed Siraj returning home, ESPNcricinfo reported that Mumbai and India all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), will be the most experienced bowler in the Indian squad with 50 wickets in 35 matches.
Among the other fast bowlers on the door, Umran Malik, Jaydev Unadkat and Mukesh Kumar have played a combined total of 15 one-day internationals.
For that matter, right-arm seam bowler Mukesh Kumar is yet to make his one-day international debut for India.
Mohammed Siraj has had a busy season for India as he featured in all three one-day international against Australia at home in March and played in the entire Indian premier league 2023 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
In the IPL this year, Mohammed Siraj was one of the most successful bowlers having taken 19 wickets in 14 matches, which was the highest among any bowler for the Royal Challengers Bangalore side which too failed to make it to the play-offs.
He was also a part of the playing 11 which took on Australia in the final of the ICC world Test championship earlier in June — a match that India lost by a huge margin of 209 runs.
Mohammed Siraj was a member of the playing 11 for both the Test matches against West Indies, picking up a total of five wickets in the two Test matches. In the first innings of the second Test on the flat Port of Spain pitch in Trinidad, Mohammed Siraj took a five wicket haul to help India take a huge lead of 181 runs in the first innings.
It is widely believed that Mohammed Siraj has stood up in the absence of lead India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and has delivered in all formats but splendid performances.
Given the way he has shaped up in the last couple of years also, the right arm fast bowler Mohammed Siraj will be a vital cog in India’s win during the ODI World Cup which they will be hosting about two months from now.