Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Mohammad Kaif has named Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna as his two pacers for the opening Test against Sri Lanka, leaving out Gurnoor Brar and uncapped seamer Auqib Nabi. The first Test will start on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium.

Speaking during a discussion on his YouTube channel (Mohammad Kaif) on August 10, he said: “Look, I feel experience is going to be very important there. If you look at Sri Lanka, whenever Indian bowlers have done well there, it hasn’t necessarily been the inexperienced or new players. The conditions can be flat there as well. It can be very hot, and the ball may not turn. As I told you, the Kookaburra ball can have a seam that becomes flat quite quickly. So, sometimes it isn’t easy to get the ball to grip. So, a player who comes with experience is likely to benefit a lot.”

READ HERE: Shubman Gill Breaks Silence On ODI Futures Of Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli

“That’s why I feel Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj are slightly ahead in terms of experience. If you told me that this match was being played in South Africa, then Gurnoor Brar could become your third or fourth seamer. If you were playing in England, I would say, ‘Yes, play Brar. But in the subcontinent, reverse swing can play a big role, and experience is also very important,” he again added.

However, Mohammad Kaif also stated that Mohammed Siraj’s experience will be important and backed him to partner Prasidh Krishna in the first game as well.

“Mohammed Siraj is a seasoned bowler, so I feel an experienced player who has played a lot of cricket will benefit more. His experience is going to be very useful. That’s why I am keeping Brar slightly behind for now. If I am talking about India’s playing XI, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna are the two fast bowlers,” Mohammad Kaif concluded.