Can Mohammed Siraj make to India’s playing 11 in 2nd T20I vs South Africa?

Mohammed Siraj replaced an injured Jasprit Bumrah for India’s remaining T20Is against South Africa. Rohit Sharma and co lead the three-game series 1-0. They are scheduled to play the second match on Sunday at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahti. 

Bumrah was on Thursday ruled out with a back stress fracture. The India spear hear, as per PTI sources, will also miss the upcoming T20 World Cup. 

Also read: Mohammed Siraj replaces Jasprit Bumrah: Is this the end of Shami’s T20 World Cup hopes?

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee named Mohd. Siraj as replacement for injured Jasprit Bumrah for the remainder of the T20I series against South Africa,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said in the statement on Friday.

“Bumrah has sustained a back injury and is currently under the supervision of the BCCI Medical Team.”

Also Read: India vs South Africa, 2nd T20I: Records, stats and pitch report

India played without Bumrah in the first game in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Deepak Chahar, Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel led the pace attack. Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin were the two spinners. Hardik Pandya played as the sixth bowling option. 

Bowlers managed to restrict Temba Bavuma and co to 106 runs before KL Rahul and Suryakumar Yadav led the chase. India won by eight wickets. 

The weather forecast says that temperature in Guwahti will be at 28 degrees during the match. A heavy 99% cloud cover at night and a 6% chance of thundershowers means the match could be interrupted. 

Also Read: India vs South Africa 1st T2OI: Rohit Sharma scripts new captaincy record, surpasses MS Dhoni

The overcast conditions should help the swing bowlers. Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh are expected to exploit the pitch. If Siraj makes it to the squad, it should be in the place of Harshal Patel. The pacer has struggled in death overs, especially since coming back from injury.

Indian squad for South Africa T20Is: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Umesh Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohd Siraj.