Twitter unhappy as Mohammad Siraj excluded from Test team

In the second Test against Windies at Hyderabad, India played Shardul Thakur in the team over Mohammad Siraj and this decision has irked some fans who expressed their displeasure on Twitter.

The Test is played at Hyderabad, the team which Siraj represents in Ranji trophy and hence some fans felt Siraj should have debuted on his home ground while some pointed out at his impressive domestic performance.

Image credits @ Tony Marshall/Getty Images

Siraj’s impressive performance in domestic cricket

Hailed as a quick learner by several former players including India’s bowling coach Bharat Arun, Siraj has taken giant strides in domestic cricket.

His 41 wickets in the Ranji trophy season in 2016 brought him in the limelight and one year later he was sold for a whopping 2.6 crores in IPL auction. All these factors look even more glorious when considering the fact that the pace bowler bowled with a cricket ball for the first time in his life only in 2015.

However, it is his recent performance for India A team that has stormed him into India’s Test squad. In his last five innings for India A, he claimed 25 wickets which include an eight-for against Australia A and two five-wicket hauls against South Africa A.

Shardul Thakur preferred over Siraj against Windies in the second Test

Although this stellar show booked a place for him in the Test squad, it was not enough to offer him a debut in the second Test. The team management preferred Shardul Thakur who too has done well in domestic cricket over Siraj and presented him with the Test cap.

Also read: Why Kohli wants Dukes ball to replace SG balls in Test cricket

Twitter unhappy with Siraj’s exclusion

This decision by the team management has irked some fans on Twitter. Soon after the Test commenced, fans started registering their displeasure on this issue.

Very disappoointed with #BCCI and the team management for their lack of foresight and planning. Having young Mohammad Siraj and Mayank Agarwal in the squad and not having a look at them in a home series is some seriously poor selection. #INDvWI #INDvsWI

— Giri Subramanian (Off Work) (@giri26) October 11, 2018

Why were Mayank Agarwal, Mohammad Siraj called up to the squad if they had no intention of playing them? #INDvWI

— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) October 11, 2018

https://twitter.com/iPrince55/status/1050605613779054594

Really Feeling Bad For @mayankcricket And #mohammadsiraj. Mayank Is averaging 105.45 In Ranji trophy 2017-2018 Season And has Scored 1160 runs. And Mohammad siraj has taken 40 wickets in last 5 First-class matches. THEY REALLY DESERVE A CHANCE. #INDVWI https://t.co/DYjQ75Oli3

— Kapil Manocha (@KapilManocha1) October 11, 2018

Mohammad siraj better options h.. #ShardulThakur nhi

— Ansari Ek Muslim (@Musavvir333) October 12, 2018

completely biased view : should have played siraj and mayank :/ https://t.co/vYlzR4x8Z5

— Sai Ratna Chaitanya Gurugubelli (@CityOrdinary) October 11, 2018

https://twitter.com/brainfadesmith/status/1050267569003749376