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Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘We take Mohammed Siraj for granted': Gambhir reminded as tireless pacer likely to spearhead attack again in final Test
Mohammed Siraj may not grab headlines as often as Jasprit Bumrah, but his relentless effort and high-voltage spells continue to play a pivotal role in India's campaign in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. As the five-Test series heads into its decider at The Oval, Siraj's performance has drawn strong praise from former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, who believes the pacer's contributions are often overlooked. India's Mohammed Siraj gestures on the third day of the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford(AP) Despite India trailing 2-1 in the series, Siraj has emerged as the third-highest wicket-taker across both sides, claiming 14 wickets in seven innings at an average of 39.71. Parthiv, speaking on 'Game Plan' on JioHotstar, shed light on the temperament and discipline Siraj brings to the Indian pace attack. 'We tend to take Mohammed Siraj for granted,' he said. 'The effort he puts in, the intensity, and the smile he wears — no matter the match situation — that's commendable.' The Hyderabad pacer has quietly turned into one of India's most dependable bowlers across formats, and his commitment to maintaining pace and aggression even during difficult spells has not gone unnoticed. While his average this series may not suggest complete dominance, Siraj's ability to break crucial partnerships and bowl with energy across long spells has helped India stay in the fight. Bumrah's workload concerns With Bumrah's workload under close scrutiny, Siraj has been expected to step up more than usual, and he has embraced that responsibility. It was reported by ESPNCricinfo last night that Bumrah is set to be rested for the Oval Test, putting the spotlight once again on Siraj, who is expected to lead the Indian pace attack. While there has been no official word on Bumrah's availability yet, Parthiv hopes the premier pacer has a fourth outing in this series at The Oval. 'We're all aware of how carefully his workload is being managed. It was announced at the press conference that he would play only three Tests, so there are a lot of factors to consider -- recovery, fitness, workload. But I would personally want to see him play the final one. Hopefully, the support staff travelling with the team can help him recover in time,' said Parthiv. As India aims to draw the series and share the trophy, a standout performance from Siraj, particularly in the absence of Bumrah, could prove decisive.
Int'l Cricket Council
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
India advised to bring in key spinner for Edgbaston bout ICC World Test Championship
While their top and middle-order batters performed well at Headingley, India were found short in the bowling department, as England chased down a comprehensive target of 371 in the fourth innings. Discussing India's possible lineup for the second Test, former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta backed left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav to make it into the side because of the match conditions. 'Looking forward to Birmingham, where it's usually a batting friendly venue, I would love to see Kuldeep there,' Dasgupta spoke on JioHotstar programme GamePlan. Kuldeep Yadav in a net session at Edgbaston || Getty Images Dasgupta believed that with India's mainstay batters firing, the side could afford to lighten up on their late-order batting. He expected Kuldeep to fit in for Shardul. 'And now the advantage of having your top five amongst runs is that you're not too worried about contributions from your No.8 with the bat. So I think that would help someone like Kuldeep to play at No.8 and not worry too much in terms of how much he's going to contribute with the bat.' Another change that Dasgupta favoured was promoting Karun Nair up the batting order, which would allow India to squeeze in a batting all-rounder. 'Get Karun Nair (at No. 3),' Dasgupta continued. 'Because Karun Nair has got most of his runs (at that position). We keep talking about the first-class career and all of that at No.3. And also, he batted for India A against the England Lions at number three.' Nair batted one down in the first game between India A and England Lions and scored a stroke-filled 204. In the next game, he dropped one down and scored 65 runs over two innings. Dasgupta went on to suggest that this would open up a spot for Nitish Kumar Reddy. 'That opens up a space for someone like Nitish at No.6, who, if required, can give you a few overs of seam up. He's been working very hard on his bowling. 'So you also have a fourth seamer.' Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar agreed with Dasgupta on both the changes. 'Nitish Kumar Reddy, I had included in my side for the first Test. And Kuldeep Yadav has to come back. I'm sorry to say, but Shardul Thakur has to go out,' Manjrekar added. 'India will have to take a hard call that even in English conditions, they go with quality bowlers and if the quality bowlers happen to be two spinners, go for it because you don't quite have the luxury of a Shami and some of the other bowlers to pick from. 'So I would go maybe one seamer short and get Kuldeep Yadav in.' Manjrekar also believed that the changed climate in recent years, might help Kuldeep thrive in England. 'English summers these days are generally dry summers because of global warming. So you know maybe it's a way to introduce spin in England. And let's not forget, Ben Stokes has completely changed his thinking and made it common-sense cricket thinking. We have to go back to those days when India would play three spinners no matter what, if it's New Zealand or England.' Another big dilemma ahead of the Test is with respect to the availability of Jasprit Bumrah. India had announced prior to the series, that Bumrah would feature in three out of the five England Tests. Bumrah did feature in Leeds and picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings, but there is no certainty around his availability in Edgbaston, which is a crucial game for India in the series. Manjrekar opined that the pacer's availability would boost India's prospects. 'When you break it down, he has bowled 42 or 43 (43.4) overs in total in five days, and there's going to be a break of another few days (between the first and the second Test). 'So my logic is, talk to him, you know, how are you feeling? Talk to his physiotherapist, his doctor, see him in the nets, and if he's pretty good, close to 100% fitness, you play him. 'I really worry about our bowling (without Bumrah) unless Kuldeep Yadav comes to India's rescue. 'India's great wins in the last many years have been when the bowlers came to the battles to rescue them. India just didn't get enough runs but their bowlers bailed them out.' Manjrekar also believed that Rishabh Pant would continue his sensational run with the willow in the series. The wicketkeeper-batter already has two tons in the first game (134 and 118), taking his tally of total hundreds in England to four, second best for India in Tests after Rahul Dravid. 'He enjoys batting in Test cricket. (For) any batter who scores two hundreds in Test cricket, it takes a lot out of you mentally, not so much physically. But getting a hundred in the first innings, and 48 hours later, you have the same kind of reserve to get another hundred. That is the hallmark of an exceptional player.' Pant's sensational performance comes after an underwhelming season in the Indian Premier League, wherein he scored 269 runs at an average of 24.45, and his side failed to reach the knockout stage of the competition. His shot selection was also in scrutiny during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 wherein despite getting starts, he added only 255 runs over five games. Manjrekar believed his recent poor run might strengthen his resolve further. 'Rishabh Pant enjoys Test cricket. He hasn't got enough runs so he's hungry. I see Pant carrying his form.' ICC World Test ChampionshipNewsMen's News
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG: ‘Cannot be one-hundred wonder' — Sanjay Manjrekar's stern message to senior India batter
India's Rishabh Pant celebrates with batting partner KL Rahul AP/PTI(AP06_23_2025_000341A) India may have lost the first Test of the ongoing five-match series against England, but the performance of their top-order batters was a major positive to take forward. At Headingley, while the lower order collapsed in both innings, the likes of Shubman Gill , KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored centuries, and Rishabh Pant smashed brilliant hundreds in each innings to keep India in the fight. Looking ahead to the crucial second Test at Edgbaston, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar is confident that Pant will continue his sublime form. Speaking on Star Sports' 'Game Plan' show, Manjrekar praised Pant's hunger and determination to make big scores in the longest format. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I think he (Rishabh Pant) will carry on because it seems like he enjoys batting in Test cricket. Any batter who gets two hundreds in a single Test, it takes a lot out of you mentally. To do it again within 48 hours shows the hallmark of an exceptional player,' Manjrekar said. India's Day 2 at the Nets in Edgbaston | IND vs ENG Test Series Highlighting another senior batter, Manjrekar pointed out that KL Rahul must keep his good form going for the remainder of the series. 'Rishabh Pant enjoys playing Tests. He has not scored enough runs in recent times, so he is hungry. I see him continuing this form, but there is another senior batter who now has no choice but to carry his form through the series. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Indian cricket needs him badly and KL Rahul cannot be a one-hundred wonder or a one-Test-match performer,' he added. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? India will have to bounce back strongly in the second Test, which starts on July 2 in Birmingham. The challenge could get tougher with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah likely to miss the match for workload management. England, on the other hand, have bolstered their squad with Jofra Archer, adding more firepower to their pace attack. With the series on the line, India's top order will once again have to lead the fightback in challenging English conditions. Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
NDTV
30-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
"Cannot Be One-Hundred Wonder": Sanjay Manjrekar On India Star Ahead Of 2nd England Test
India lost the first Test of their ongoing five-match series to England, but it had a lot of positives to take from the game; top-order batting was one of them. While the lower-order batters failed miserably during the series opener at Headingley, Leeds, the top-order just had a contrasting outing. The likes of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a century each, while Rishabh Pant smashed tons in both innings during the game. Former India player Sanjay Manjrekar believes that Pant will carry on his superb form to the second Test against England. He added that Rahul too has no choice but to "carry his form through the series". He shared his opinions during the 'Game Plan' show on Star Sports. "I think he (Rishabh Pant) will (carry his form to the second game) because it seems like he enjoys batting in Test cricket. Any batter who gets two hundreds in a Test match, it takes a lot out of you mentally, not so much physically, getting a hundred in the first innings, and 48 hours later, you have the same kind of reserve to get another hundred. So that is a hallmark of an exceptional player," the former India batter said. "Rishabh Pant enjoys Test matches. He has not got enough runs. So he is hungry. I see Pant carrying his form, but there is another senior batter in the team, who now has got no choice but to carry his form right through the series. Indian cricket needs him badly, and KL Rahul cannot be a one-hundred wonder or a one-Test-match performer," he added. India will aim to level the series when they take on England in the second match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting July 2. It will be a tough test for the Indian cricket team as its ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to miss the game as a part of workload management. The right-arm fast bowler was the lone impressive performer during India's bowling in the first Test. To add to India's trouble, England have added right-arm pacer Jofra Archer to their squad. If he plays the Birmingham Test, the Indian batters will have to face an even better England bowling attack.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
No room for Kuldeep Yadav, Ranji star as Gautam Gambhir told to make bold Shubman Gill call in India XI vs England
With just over a week left before India's five-match Test series against England gets underway, conversations have been largely around the kind of playing XI head coach Gautam Gambhir will decide for the opening game at Headingley on June 20. Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has been among the first to come up with advice for his ex-teammate, asking him to take a bold call on the new captain, Shubman Gill. The discussions around the potential playing XI has been mostly about the top-order combination, with senior batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma having retired from the format last month. Uthappa, speaking on Star Sports show 'Game Plan', said that he would want to stick with KL Rahul as an opener, after his century in the India A game recently, and have Gill pushed down to the No. 4 spot to make way for Sai Sudharsan at No. 3. "For me, I want to start stronger right at the top, and I would want KL Rahul to open there. With the kind of success he has gotten there, with just the way he batted in Australia, and the way he has batted in the past in England augurs well for India to get him to open the batting," he said. "At No. 3, I would love to see someone like Sai Sudharsan because of how technically right he is, and the potential he possesses as what we feel and believe he can do and achieve in Test cricket. No. 4, Shubman Gill for sure," Uthappa added. Uthappa then added the returning Karun Nair, who scored a double century in the first India A earlier this month, at No. 5. In the battle between the two all-rounders, he snubbed Mumbai's Ranji Trophy star Shardul Thakur, who earned a call-up after an impressive show with the bat and ball in the last domestic season, and picked Nitish Reddy. "My No. 5 would be Karun Nair because you want a little bit of experience there. No. 6 - Rishabh Pant, I love him at No. 6. I think that's his sweet spot. At No. 7, I will have Nitish Kumar Reddy because he is a proper fast-bowling all-rounder, your fourth fast-bowling option," he elaborated. Uthappa picked a solitary spinner in Ravindra Jadeja, thus overlooking Kuldeep Yadav, to add more batting depth. "I will have Jadeja. Again, increased depth, scores runs, and has scored runs in England as well in Test cricket. So I will have him at No. 8," he said. His pace line-up comprised Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. "I see Siraj playing that role. Siraj has to be a lot more disciplined though. One change, you will like to see Prasidh Krishna come in, and Nitish Kumar Reddy again to support the fast bowlers," Uthappa said. Robin Uthappa's India XI for England Tests: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsna, Shubman Gill, Karun Nair, Rishabh Pant, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
