Team India would be hoping to bounce back in the upcoming five-match Test series against England after their defeat in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Virat Kohli led Team India failed to win another ICC event and the team selection and management decisions came under the scanner. And, now as per the reports, Mohammed Siraj is likely to come in the playing XI.

Apart from this, the veterans like Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara’s place are also in danger. And now, with Shubman Gill’s injury, KL Rahul or Mayank Agarwal might come in place in the longer format of the game. Even, Hanuma Vihari can also probably return in the middle order.

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While India’s bowling unit failed to do well in Southampton barring a few, they are likely to do well in the English conditions as well, sources, as reported by News 18, stated that: “Even if the team management intends to stick with R Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja in the eleven, Siraj will probably replace Ishant (Sharma). But he’s in, and that’s certain.”

Former India batsman Gagan Khoda believed Mohammed Siraj could have been added into the playing XI as well. Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless in both innings whereas Ravindra Jadeja too couldn’t impress much and these are something that came under the scanner as well.

However, the veteran has also said that Siraj should have played and he even believes that Shardul Thakur could have been added to the playing XI too, although he wasn’t even named in the 15-preliminary 15-member squad as well.

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“Siraj should have played in place of Ishant Sharma. The conditions were suitable for swing bowling. No one was moving the ball apart from Mohammad Shami and there was no one who supported him. Siraj could have moved the ball better. Even Shardul could have been a good option. He moves the ball well,” Khoda told SportsKeeda in an interview.