Experts reckon India should play Mohammed Siraj in WTC final

India have gone to England with a fleet of premier fast bowlers, continuing the recent trend of the problem of plenty.

However, not very long ago on the tour of Australia India were rendered helpless with limited options. They found a hero in Mohammed Siraj, who grabbed the opportunity with both hands and since then has emerged as one of the frontline bowlers in the red-ball format.

Siraj’s rise has been so meteoric that now experts are suggesting him to be the part of the XI that will feature in the final of the World Test Championship against New Zealand.

"I agree that these are still early days, they will be practicing in a group in England and then together as a team, the form of bowlers will be seen but one thing is sure that at the moment, Mohammed Siraj is certain to play the premier match, the World Test Championship final, which will be a huge achievement for him," former India all-rounder Reetinder Sodhi said.

"The way Mohammed Siraj's name has come out, this boy has taken giant strides. He is still a baby in international cricket but the way he stamped his authority in Australia, the fighting spirit he has shown, and the lethal pace he generates, it is a very big thing that his name is being taken ahead of Ishant," he added.

On the other hand, former India wicket-keeper and national selector Saba Karim said, “At the moment, the New Zealand team has four left-handers - Tom Latham, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, and Mitchell Santner. I feel if we compare our four frontline pace bowlers, Mohammed Siraj probably bowls the best against left-handers. That is why I feel Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri believe it will be ideal to play Mohammed Siraj," Karim said.

India are going to have a headache finalizing their pace line-up for England. But it’s a headache captains across the world want to have. Virat Kohli will be pleased that he too is going to have it on the eve of the final in Southampton.