Sunil Gavaskar calls for India to drop Mohammed Siraj from the Sydney Test

India does not have a high-performing bowling department, nor a match-saving batting order as it plays the Border Gavaskar Trophy. From the looks of what has transpired in the three Tests played so far, the visitors have one star performer: Jasprit Bumrah. The batting order has suffered more collapses than notable knocks down under. Moreover, no other bowler has proved to be a standout performer other than Bumrah, whose sensational performance has allowed India to draw level in the five-match series. Now, with the heat mounting, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has urged the management to make drastic moves if India wants to retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

"Siraj needs a break," says Sunil Gavaskar

Following the end of India's bowling innings in the Boxing Day Test, Sunil Gavaskar suggested that India should drop Mohammed Siraj for the final Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The legendary batter also directed the Indian management to confront Siraj about his performances down under. The Melbourne Test began with Pat Cummins opting to bat first on a pitch that proved to be favorable to the batters. Most of the Indian bowlers' tricks failed as Australia, with debutant Sam Konstas and Usman Khawaja at the crease, settled in.

India managed to bundle out the Australian innings only on the second day, and not before the home team had rushed to a mammoth score of 474. Even in Melbourne, Bumrah came to the rescue, as his four-wicket haul tracked India's inroads in the game. Apart from Bumrah, only Siraj has been a consistent presence in the Indian bowling attack over the course of the BGT so far. The spot for the third pacer has seen Harshit Rana in the Perth and Adelaide Tests. However, underwhelming returns pushed India to bring in Akash Deep for the Gabba Test. Both seamers are playing their first series in Australia, unlike Siraj, who is now counted among the seasoned prospects.

Thus, Sunil Gavaskar wants India to address the less-than-impressive bowling display of Siraj in the series. The former Indian cricketer has asked for the management to communicate how Siraj has failed to meet their expectations in the BGT. Moreover, Gavaskar believes that India should consider bringing in both Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana to bolster Jasprit Bumrah’s support in the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“I think Siraj, perhaps, needs a little bit of a break," Gavaskar said. “In the sense that, I am not saying a break, he needs to be told that he is left out of the team for non-performance. There has to be a situation where you can’t beat around the bush. You need to be brutally upfront and say ‘look, your performance has not been up to scratch and therefore you are being dropped’. When you start talking about ‘rest’, players get wrong ideas. They feel they don’t need to up their game," he added in his brutally honest verdict on the pacer.

In the opening innings of the Boxing Day Test, Siraj bowled 23 overs, managing three maiden overs and finishing wicketless. Siraj conceding 122 runs at a high economy rate of 5.30 in his spell at the MCG pitch. Among the Indian bowlers, he had the most expensive figures. Despite being India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the series with 13 dismissals, Siraj’s tally pales in comparison to Bumrah’s 25 wickets. This stark contrast may fuel the argument for a reshuffle in India’s bowling attack for the crucial Sydney Test.