Mohammed Siraj set to return for second ODI against New Zealand, Aakib Nabi at risk

The Indian cricket team has made a stellar start to their ODI series against New Zealand. In the first ODI held at Eden Park in Auckland, the Indian team displayed a remarkable performance despite having an inexperienced bowling attack, ultimately defeating New Zealand by 5 wickets. Following this victory, all eyes are now on the second ODI scheduled to be played in Wellington, while it's almost certain that star Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj will make his return to the playing eleven for this crucial encounter. While his return will undoubtedly bolster the bowling unit, it has also sparked discussions regarding potential changes in the team composition.

Why Siraj missed the first ODI

In the first ODI at Eden Park, the Indian team opted to field 4 fast bowlers. However, the absence of Mohammed Siraj from the playing eleven surprised many fans and experts alike, while former pacer Dodda Ganesh even questioned the team management's decision publicly. However, the reason behind Siraj's absence wasn't related to form or injury, but rather a matter of workload management.

In reality, until a day before the Auckland ODI, Mohammed Siraj was actively participating in a 3-day test match between India A and New Zealand A. This match was held in Lincoln, which is approximately 780 kilometers away from Auckland. Siraj was instructed to play this match to prepare for the upcoming test series, while traveling from Lincoln to Auckland overnight and stepping onto the field for an international match without proper rest or preparation could have been detrimental to his performance and physical well-being. Consequently, the team management decided to rest him for the first ODI.

Potential changes for the second ODI

Mohammed Siraj has now reached Wellington, where the second ODI is scheduled for November 7. The team management had directed him to report directly to Wellington. With his return, the question of who will vacate the spot in the playing eleven has become a major talking point. After restricting the New Zealand team to just 185 runs in the first match, making changes to the bowling attack will be a challenging task for the team management.

Analysts suggest that Aakib Nabi might have to make way for Siraj. Right-arm pacer Nabi impressed many in Auckland, particularly when he opened the bowling alongside Arshdeep Singh and troubled the Kiwi openers on several occasions. However, he remained wicketless as Naman Dhir dropped an easy catch off his bowling. Following the dropped catch, the sharpness in his bowling seemed to diminish suddenly. Due to this, his position currently appears the most vulnerable, and he may have to sit out to accommodate Siraj's return.