'It's unfair' – Anjum Chopra questions India's decision to bench Mohammed Siraj

The fourth ODI between India and New Zealand in Mount Maunganui on Friday, November 13, saw the home team make three changes to their playing XI. Despite these adjustments to the seaming options, Mohammed Siraj remained on the sidelines. The experienced fast bowler, who has taken 77 wickets at an economy rate of 5.15 across 50 ODI innings, was not included in the XI despite his recent performances for India A.

Former India captain Anjum Chopra expressed strong criticism of the decision to keep Siraj out of the match. Speaking on Sony Sports, Chopra highlighted what she saw as inconsistency in the team's approach towards the bowler, who had recently featured in an unofficial Test against New Zealand A before joining the ODI squad.

Chopra was vocal about her concerns regarding the treatment of an experienced player in good form. She pointed out that Siraj had remained available throughout the tour across New Zealand, yet was not given an opportunity to play despite his proven skill and temperament.

"It's unfair. You play for the Indian team only if you are a decent talent, but you become exceptional when you perform and help India win. It's good if you are backing someone for so many matches, but that doesn't mean that someone who was doing well earlier and came after bowling well for India A, you ask him to come and do the warm-ups and train, but you won't keep him in the XI," Chopra said on Sony Sports.

"I don't think it is right. If you don't want to play him, you could have attached some younger bowlers to this team. He has roamed around the entire New Zealand and even became Ronaldo with Ishan Kishan, but play him in the XI at least. It's unfair to an experienced player who is in good rhythm and can perform right at the top with the kind of temperament and skill he has," Chopra added.

Dinesh Karthik flags India's middle-order vulnerability

Read More

Dinesh Karthik flags India's middle-order vulnerability

Ajay Jadeja acknowledged the difficulty in explaining Siraj's continued absence from the XI across multiple matches in the series. Jadeja noted that Siraj is a player who requires consistent game time and rhythm to perform at his best, and that his retention in the squad had suggested he would feature in the remaining ODIs.

"Very difficult to explain, and he is that player who needs game time and rhythm. The rest of the Test players have left to prepare for Tests. You felt he was retained because he might play," Jadeja said.

Jadeja suggested that there could be undisclosed reasons for Siraj's benching, including a possible minor injury concern that the team management may have decided to manage carefully. He pointed out that the team may have chosen to avoid taking a risk with the bowler ahead of the remaining matches in the series.

"However, many times we make our assessments, but he might have a small niggle, and the team might be thinking that they shouldn't take a chance, and that they might play him in the next match. Something like that might be the case, or else he is a proven player. It's not like he is a new player. Otherwise, there might be something we aren't aware of," Jadeja said.