"How Can Someone Prepare For Tests By Carrying Drinks?" Gautam Gambhir And Co. Questioned Over Veteran's Snub

India's batters were in focus after the side was bowled out for 89 while chasing a target of 334. There were also question marks over the bowling unit. The attack featured pacers such as Arshdeep Singh, Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar. Mohammed Siraj, who is also part of the Test squad set to face New Zealand, was not used. In fact, he has not featured in the ODI series at all. Former India opener Aakash Chopra has questioned the decision to keep Siraj on the bench while also not releasing him to join the Test squad.

"The fact is that we still didn't play Mohammed Siraj. I am going to write a petition. I want to know what Mohammed Siraj's mistake is. If someone from the Indian cricket team is listening, whether it's the coach or the captain, please explain. The captain has changed, but the guy is still being left out. Anshul Kamboj has been sent to prepare for the Tests. Siraj has been held back here," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"How can someone prepare for a Test match by carrying drinks? It's totally beyond my understanding. I will say, like a broken record, that you have played him in only 10 matches in the last 35 months, seven matches in the last 24 months, and four matches in the last 12 months. How is that okay? You are not giving him a chance to play cricket."

Earlier, during the third ODI, Sunil Gavaskar was asked about Mohammed Siraj's exclusion and whether he would be part of India's plans for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Gavaskar said there is still a lot of time left before the 2027 ODI World Cup and that selections should not be made based on that factor alone.

"Firstly, we are making the mistake that England often makes. If England are going to Australia to play the Ashes that winter, they think only about the Ashes and end up losing the matches played during their home summer. We have to think about what we need right now. South Africa can be thought about when the time comes. First, you have to win the series here," the India great said on Sony Sports (as quoted by Sportskeeda).

"You have won the T20I series, and if you win this series, you will go into the Test matches with great confidence. There is still one more year left before South Africa. We shouldn't be thinking about whether Siraj or Jasprit Bumrah should be there. We are thinking too far ahead. I know that he is going for Test-match preparation after this match, but our plan is to disturb the team as little as possible."

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