Will Young in pursuit of records, Daryl Mitchell’s partnership and Indore decider | IND vs. NT
Jadeja went wicketless in the first two ODIs, returning figures of 0 for 44 and 0 for 56, and took only one wicket in the previous home series against South Africa. Despite this, Siraj emphasized that the team’s confidence remains intact. “We played very well in both the matches. In the first ODI, our bowling and batting were very good. In the second match, even after losing early wickets, KL Rahul batted well and Nitish Reddy also contributed,” he said. Reflecting on the second ODI defeat, Siraj admitted the missed chances proved costly, especially against Daryl Mitchell. “There was an opportunity. When the catch fell, if we had taken that chance, the result could have been different. World-class batsmen don’t give you many opportunities and when they get one, they make you pay,” he said. After Mitchell’s continued success against India, Siraj said the plans were clear but the execution failed. “We tried our best to get him out and we had plans, especially for the middle overs. But again it’s about taking this one opportunity. If we had taken that wicket, the scenario would have been different,” he added. Siraj also suppressed any pressure in the series level camp. “The environment in the team is very good. There is a strong input from the seniors. Wins and losses happen, but the atmosphere in the dressing room is very healthy, especially as we prepare for bigger tournaments,” he said. Asked if Arshdeep Singh could share the new ball on Indore’s small pitch, Siraj backed his left arm and left the call to management. “Arshdeep bowled very well and took wickets with the new ball. The captain and the coach decide the roles but as a bowler, if someone is taking wickets at the other end, my job is to create pressure and not give runs. I have full faith in him,” said Siraj. He also praised Harshit Rana’s impact and said, “Harshit also did well, got a wicket early. It is good for him that he is getting an opportunity before the World Cup.” When Siraj was missing from the T20 World Cup squad, he said he would have liked to introduce himself but accepted the decision. “I’d love to play, but it could be workload management,” he said. With the Holkar Stadium favoring batsmen, Siraj said his plan will remain simple. “It’s a small pitch and usually a high-scoring place. If you bowl stump-to-stump, you always have options like LBW or bowling. Even if you don’t hit, there’s still a chance of a wicket,” he said. India and New Zealand are tied 1-1 in Sunday’s decider.