New Delhi, India

Rohit Sharma-led India lost the first Test to New Zealand by eight wickets on Day 5 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Sunday (Oct 20). Ahead of the second Test, in Pune starting Oct 24, the Indian team management would consider changing the playing XI. In the first Test, the hosts went ahead with three spinners and two pacers, however, Mohammed Siraj didn't look in his elements. He returned with match figures of 2 for 100 and seemed off colour, despite conditions being favourable for pacers. Thus, former Indian stumper Saba Karim feels India can bring in Akash Deep instead of Siraj for the Pune Test, starting on Oct 24.

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Talking on Jio Cinema, Karim said, "I reckon that Mohammed Siraj may be under some kind of pressure and I'm sure they will have a discussion before they pick the XI for the next Test match. Because as a front-line seam bowler in a Test match, you are expected to pick wickets with the new ball and also come back and bowl well with the second new ball. To that extent, I don't think that Siraj has delivered."

Also read: IND v NZ 2024: New Zealand win in Bengaluru, bags first Test victory in India in 36 years

Karim added, "Akash has got enough experience of bowling on such tracks in Indian conditions because he's been around for a number of years for Bengal. So you would look to have somebody on your side who has the experience of bowling on such tracks, even though the tracks have been lifeless."

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Akash made his Test debut early this year, during India's home games versus England. In three Tests, he has accounted for eight scalps and looked in good rhythm, with his pace, action and control. Siraj, on the other hand, has been ordinary in India's home Tests this year. Hence, it will be interesting to see if the Indian team management drops him for the penultimate Test to allow him to rejuvenate and comeback stronger.

India lost the Bengaluru Test despite a solid comeback after being all-out for 46, their lowest-total in home Tests, on Day 1 (after opting to bat first), courtesy of Matt Henry's 5 for 15. In reply, the Kiwis rode on Rachin Ravindra's 134 to take a solid 356-run lead. Later India rode on Sarfaraz Khan's 150 and Rishabh Pant's 99 to go past the 400-run mark in their second essay but eventually got dismissed for 462; setting a paltry 107-run target which the visitors achieved on the final day on Sunday.

India squad: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Washington Sundar