The former fast bowler Atul Wassan wants the selectors to pick Mohammed Siraj in India’s Champions Trophy squad as a replacement for Jasprit Bumrah.
The star pacer who played his last cricket in the fifth test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy is out of action these days due to a back injury. There are question marks over his participation in the 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy.
Wassan who played four tests and nine ODIs for India in 1990 and 1991 feels that if Bumrah is available for the ICC event, India will be considered as favourites, but in his absence even India will not face many problems.
“Look, Bumrah has done more work than he was expected to do in Australia. If Bumrah is not there, it’s Shami, so I think we are covered.”
“If Bumrah comes, it’s a lottery. If Bumrah and Shami both come, we are certainly the favourites to win the tournament. Rohit is in form, Virat is due, so I think our team is good. But even without Bumrah, I think we are still okay,” told Wassan.
Bumrah misses out on a place in the Indian team due to injury related issues, then Wassan wants India to consider Siraj over the likes of Harshit Rana and Varun Chakravarthy.
“Look, there are matches in Dubai. In the UAE, the conditions are slow, and sometimes there’s dew at night as well. So, you need experienced players.”
“Nowadays, it’s not like, unless the total wicket is green or completely empty, then you think about it. When there are neutral pitches, then you go with the best you have. There are a lot of factors in cricket.”
“It’s not black and white. So, I think the players who have played 50-60 matches for India, who have undergone the pressure, it’s better to play them rather than getting excited and playing a new guy,” Atul Wassan said.
“So, if we are talking about Siraj and Harshit, I will play Siraj. Because he is a proven entity, he has done it.”
“I won’t waste his experience. I will play the one who has played 100 matches. Because in such a big pressure encounter, even if a new player is bowling well, he can be switched,” Atul Wassan added.
Wassan also came out in support of India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir saying that he should be allowed to operate the side the way he wants to and see if he can get the desired results.
“Strong personalities have extreme reactions. Either you totally love them or you hate them. So, I think the ones who send these decisive signals are sometimes very successful, so we have to go.”
“But if you have given him the charge, then I think whatever he wants to do, he should be allowed to do. If he doesn’t deliver after that, then throw him out. If he does, then let him do it,” Wassan said.
India will start their Champions Trophy campaign against Bangladesh on February 19 at Dubai International Stadium before facing their arch-rivals Pakistan on February 23.
