Srikkanth wants Siraj to be picked up for 2027WC; highlights tournament's importance for skipper Gill
Mumbai, July 25
Former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth backed the selection of pacer Mohammed Siraj for the 2027 ODI Cricket World Cup co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, saying that in South African conditions, India will need bowlers who can use the full strength of their shoulders and wrists to hit the deck.
Siraj, who has played 50 ODIs and taken 76 wickets at an average of over 25, has been used sparingly in limited-overs cricket over last three years or so, playing just nine ODIs since the 2023 World Cup final and missing the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Siraj did feature in three ODIs against New Zealand earlier this year and also played one match in the ICC T20 World Cup, which India won. However, pacers Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana, Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar have also found their way in the limited-overs set-up.
Speaking in a video by Star Sports, Srikkanth said on Siraj that, "What I am saying is that he should be picked. Because in South African conditions, bowlers like Siraj--who hit the deck using their wrist like this--are exactly what is needed. If you just run in and bowl "softly" or try to swing it by pitching it up too much, you will get hammered in South Africa.
"So there, you need those "shoulder" bowlers, or the Jofra Archer-type of bowlers. That is the kind you should look for. Using the wrist is key. A whippy bowler! Coming in like that and hitting the deck with a "snap"--you can actually hear that sound," he added.
Srikkanth also said that the upcoming 50-over World Cup is extremely important for skipper Shubman Gill, who took over the ODI side from Rohit Sharma post ICC Champions Trophy win under the latter. Noting that Team India has been missing the thrill of winning the 50-over World Cup since their last triumph in 2011, the tournament will be important for Gill, and he will have to take a lot of resposibility.
"Very important (2027 WC for Gill). Because in all fairness, he is a good captain and a good player. In One-Day Internationals, he is a fantastic player. Gill has been playing superbly. So, regarding this important responsibility--see, the most important thing, even if you look at it from an Indian point of view now, is that every Indian wants to win the World Cup. No matter how many T20 World Cups you might win, it is not the same as winning that "main" World Cup. That is the 50-over World Cup; that is the major World Cup, right? There is no thrill in life quite like winning that. So, I think for Shubman Gill, it is very, very important," he added.
However, for Gill, life as an ODI captain has not been great so far, with series losses to Australia and England away from home and a series loss to New Zealand at home putting a blot on his CV as a captain, despite more promise delivered as a Test captain. As an ODI captain, he has made 604 runs in 12 matches and 11 innings at an average of 67.11, including a century and five fifties.
This year in nine ODIs, Gill has scored 561 runs in nine ODIs and eight innings at an average of 93.50 and a strike rate of 110.65, with a century and five fifties, with a best score of 154.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm worried about Gill's captaincy record so far. Series losses to Australia, England, and New Zealand at home is not ideal for a WC-bound captain. But his personal form is phenomenal - 93 average this year is unreal! Hope he can translate that into leadership success. And yes, Siraj should definitely be in the squad for SA conditions 🇮🇳
Interesting perspective from Srikkanth. As someone who follows world cricket, I think India needs a balanced attack - not just 'whippy' bowlers but also those who can swing it. Siraj is good but Prasidh Krishna has better numbers in SA conditions. Gill's captaincy needs time; he's only 25 and learning on the job. The 2027 WC is still two years away, plenty of time to build a winning combination.
Srikkanth makes a valid point about Siraj's suitability for SA pitches. The 'snap' sound he describes is exactly what makes someone like Jofra Archer lethal on those tracks. But we must also consider that Siraj hasn't played much ODI cricket lately. Hope the selectors give him consistent game time before the WC. As for Gill, bhai, winning the 50-over WC is every Indian's dream - let's hope he can deliver!
I agree with the importance of the 50-over World Cup - it's the pinnacle of ODI cricket. But I'm not fully convinced about Siraj being the only answer. We have a good pool of pacers now - Krishna, Rana, Yadav. Siraj needs to prove his fitness and form consistently. And Gill's captaincy needs more time to be judged fairly. Let's not put too much pressure on him already.
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