New Delhi: Team India's Test captain Virat Kohli on Monday confirmed that he is fully fit to play Ind vs SA series decider in Cape Town but speedster Mohammed Siraj is still recovering from a hamstring niggle and won't be part of team India's playing XI for third Test against South Africa.
“Mohammed Siraj is still recovering from a hamstring niggle. I don’t think he is a match-fit. Siraj isn’t upto the mark but I am absolutely fit to play", Virat Kohli told reporters during the pre-match press conference ahead of Ind vs SA 3rd test at Cape Town.
The question now arises who will replace fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj in the team? Will it be Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav?
Ishant Sharma's experience may overshadow Umesh Yadav's brilliant outswinger ability to replace injured Mohammad Siraj when the Indian team takes the field for the series decider against South Africa.
Siraj suffered a hamstring niggle while bowling on the first day of Ind vs SA 2nd Test at Johannesburg, due to which he could bowl only 15.5 overs during the entire match.
Coach Rahul Dravid admitted that Siraj's injury affected the team's strategy while defending 240 runs in the fourth innings of 2nd Test.
When the Indian team takes the field for the third Test to be played at Newlands on January 11, it will have two experienced bowlers as a substitute for Siraj.
1. Ishant Sharma: The 33-year-old senior bowler is not in the best form but he has experience of more than 100 Test matches.
2. Umesh Yadav: 34-year-old Umesh has played 51 Tests so far and recently his performance has been better than Ishant but his pace has declined with his age.
Chances are high that Virat and coach Rahul Dravid would prefer Ishant Sharma over Umesh Yadav. The biggest reason for this can be that Ishant's height is six feet three inches and his height can trouble the South African batsmen. South Africa's tall bowlers Marco Janssen and Duane Olivier have been able to take advantage of their height in the ongoing Ind vs SA Test series.