'His foot was slipping a little' - Sunil Gavaskar analyses Mohammed Siraj's spell in NZ vs IND 2026 5th ODI

At Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on November 15, India defeated New Zealand by 22 runs to clinch the five-match ODI series 3-1. The visitors posted 209 in their innings while restricting the hosts to 187 all out in 48.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj, the India pacer, took two wickets for 50 runs across 10 overs in the day-night encounter, though his performance drew technical scrutiny from former India captain Sunil Gavaskar.

Gavaskar identified a specific mechanical issue that affected Siraj's consistency throughout his spell. The former opening batter offered detailed analysis of the pacer's delivery stride and the physical factors that hampered his control during the match.

"He was wayward because he wasn't getting the grip while landing. His foot was slipping a little when the front foot was in the delivery stride. That's why he was probably not feeling confident," Gavaskar said during a discussion on Sony Sports when asked about Siraj's impressive spell after a difficult start.

Siraj's ability to find rhythm proved crucial to his eventual effectiveness in the match. Gavaskar highlighted how the pacer's performance improved once he settled into his bowling pattern, noting the quality of his execution when conditions aligned with his natural style.

"He is a rhythm bowler, which means you get into rhythm when you keep bowling. Look at how nicely his ball came in (to dismiss Finn Allen)," Gavaskar said.

The selection of Siraj for the ODI series reflected India's broader squad management strategy ahead of the Test series beginning three days after the fifth ODI. Gavaskar explained the reasoning behind giving the pacer match exposure rather than rest during the limited-overs leg.

"He has to play a Test match in three days. So, it was necessary for him to play today's match. He will benefit from the overs he bowled in the Test match as well," Gavaskar said.

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The difference between net practice and match conditions remained central to Gavaskar's assessment of Siraj's selection. The former captain stressed that competitive cricket provides pressures and experiences that training cannot replicate, making actual match time invaluable for a bowler's preparation.

"Had he been resting only in the five ODIs, he would definitely have been bowling in the nets, but there is a huge difference between the net and match temperament. You don't have any pressure in the nets. There is no pressure of no-balls or batters hitting you for fours and sixes," Gavaskar said.