Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan urged the team management to play Mohammed Siraj regularly in ODIs so that he can be a pace spearhead for India in the 2027 ODI World Cup like Mohammad Shami. He has so far played only six ODIs since the end of the previous edition in 2023, and he was not included for the recent three-match series against South Africa as well.

“Mohammed Siraj is now a senior bowler, he comes into that category now. Sure, he is brilliant in Tests, but if he is a regular new-ball bowler in ODIs, then we can expect him to take on Mohammad Shami’s role in the 2027 World Cup. We need atleast three good, quality, solid, fast bowlers in South Africa, and Bumrah picks and chooses games, and has not played a single ODI since 2023 ODI World Cup Final, so we need to keep other bowlers ready in case there is an injury,” Irfan Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

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However, Team India have rested Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, but there are four frontline bowlers to choose from as far as pacers are concerned.

“One of the three frontline pacers might have to make way for Kuldeep Yadav, and I think it will be one of Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh, because India already have batting till No.8. India are solid favorites in this series, so I hope that they don’t win 2-1, but instead get a 3-0 result,” Irfan Pathan concluded.