Former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja has advised the Indian team management, led by Gautam Gambhir, to make a change to India’s playing XI for the third ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Tuesday, November 10.
Speaking ahead of the third ODI on Sony LIV, Jadeja remarked that Arshdeep Singh could be rested with Mohammed Siraj replacing him in the XI. Notably, India went with the same XI in the initial two ODIs, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-game series.
“In the T20Is, after winning 3-0, you finished 3-2. So there won’t be too many changes until it becomes 3-0. One change might happen. Arshdeep has bowled extremely well. He has been playing T20Is as well, and we haven’t seen Siraj thus far. It’s not because of performance, but to see how this attack functions without a left-arm seamer,” Jadeja said.
“India are using all these matches to prepare the team for the World Cup. A right-hander would come in place of a left-hander. There is no chance of a change in batting. You won’t add a spinner because it is a small ground. So, if this is a change for India, it’s not tactical, but to give someone a little rest. He (Arshdeep) has been playing consistently, and this is to get him (Siraj) back into the game,” he added.
While Arshdeep scalped four wickets in the first ODI, he went wicketless in the second game. On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj didn’t feature in the first two games.
In the second ODI, batting first, New Zealand was bundled out for 134 in 41 overs. Daryl Mitchell topped the order with 55. Gurnoor Brar picked up a four-wicket haul. In the chase, India took 26 overs with three wickets in hand via the DLS method. Shreyas Iyer (30) was the top scorer. Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy picked up three wickets apiece.
