IND vs NZ 2026: 'It is always about one wicket' - Mohammed Siraj defends under-fire Indian stalwart ahead of 3rd ODI

Ravindra Jadeja has struggled with both bat and ball in ODI cricket of late. However, Mohammed Siraj threw his weight behind the star all-rounder, saying that one wicket will change things for the better.

In his last five ODIs, Jadeja has just one wicket, averaging a mind-boggling 257 with the ball while giving away runs at an economy rate of 6.11. With the bat, he has scored 87 runs from four outings. He has gone wicketless in the ongoing series against the Kiwis and managed just 31 runs.

"I don't think there is any concern. It is always about one wicket. The bowling is doing well - once you get that one wicket, you will see a different bowler with a different confidence. I don't see any concern," Siraj said (via Cricbuzz).

When asked about the atmosphere in the team heading into the series decider at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday (January 18), Siraj said that the inputs from the senior players have helped ease the tension considerably.

"The atmosphere is very good because we are getting a lot of input from the seniors. We won the first match and then played the second, so it feels like a high-pressure situation."

We had a game plan for him: Mohammed Siraj on Indian bowlers struggling against Daryl Mitchell

Daryl Mitchell has continued his love affair with India. He is the leading run-getter in the series, having amassed 215 runs in two innings at an average of 215. The right-handed batter smashed a magnificent ton in the second ODI in Rajkot, helping the Kiwis restore parity in the series.

Siraj said that the Indian bowlers have tried hard to get Mitchell out cheaply, but his skills and proactiveness have helped him have the upper hand.

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"We tried our best to get him out (in Rajkot). We had a game plan for him. As you can see, even a world-class batter can make mistakes. If we had grabbed that opportunity (a catch was dropped), the scenario would have been different. The way he bats against spin, especially in the middle overs - taking singles and doubles - shows that he is thinking clearly and batting with a plan," Siraj said.

"In Rajkot, there wasn't much dew and the ball was coming nicely onto the bat. Our plan was to get him out as early as possible, and we will try to do the same in this match," the pacer went on to add," he added.