Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been given a much-needed rest for the ODI leg of the West Indies tour to manage his workload ahead of the 2023 World Cup. Following India’s 1-0 Test series victory, Siraj returned home with other Test players – R Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, KS Bharat, and Navdeep Saini.
With Mohammed Shami’s absence, Siraj was expected to lead India’s relatively inexperienced pace attack, comprising Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Mukesh Kumar, Umran Malik, and Hardik Pandya. India, however, won’t seek a replacement for Siraj.
In the run-up to the ODI World Cup, India faces a busy schedule with the Asia Cup scheduled from late August to mid-September, followed by a three-match ODI series against Australia in September.
During the West Indies tour, Siraj showcased his talent, picking up seven wickets in the two Test matches, including a crucial five-for in the first innings on a challenging Port-of-Spain pitch. His performances have been impressive, including a notable contribution in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, where he took five wickets.
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