Mohammed Siraj is an erratic bowler; he can't be India's third pacer for T20 World Cup: Kris Srikkanth

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opened up on the spin combination for India for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Pathan said that having at least five good bowlers is the bare minimum and he would opt for two wrist-spinners in Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav.

“You need five good bowlers. That's a must. What are your wicket-taking options? I would have two wrist-spinners playing, Bishnoi and Kuldeep, in my playing 11. If you look at Bishnoi's numbers, he is pretty good. Yes, we're talking about [Yuzvendra] Chahal right now, because of the IPL performances, but don't forget the fielding,” Pathan said on Star Sports Press Room.

“So, in my team, if 8, 9, 10, 11, two spinners, two fast bowlers are playing, and if [Shivam] Dube and Hardik [Pandya] can give me four overs, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, as one more bowler there, I'll have two proper wrist spinners. But when you're talking about what Indian team might do, Indian team might actually play Ravindra Jadeja at number 7. And I agree with Tom [Moody] in that front that it's a bit too high for him. So, this is where the selection is a bit tough, but you need to make tough calls this time around."

Also read: 'No one bowls in top six and that's the biggest challenge' - Irfan Pathan on India's T20 WC selection

Pathan also opined on who the three pacers will be in the World Cup squad. While he picked Jasprit Bumrah as the obvious choice, he said that no one else walks into the team like Bumrah based on current form.

“I think there's only one player who you can [pick] blindly, Bumrah. But apart from Bumrah, need at least two fast bowlers who can be part of the regular eleven. I don't understand that right now, in terms of performance, that you can blindly say he's the guy. You'll have to bank on a little experience. And in that hope, when they played India last time, who did they play? [Mohammed] Siraj played that [South Africa] series. He bowled one or two wickets in two matches and he had a good economy. Arshdeep's numbers weren't great in terms of wickets [against South Africa] but Arshdeep's numbers will be better in the IPL. Siraj’s performance hasn't been that well so far [in IPL 2024]. So, if I'm sitting in the selection panel, I'll go towards experience. I'll say, take Arshdeep and Siraj with Bumrah,” Pathan said.

“Who else do you have? Khaleel Ahmed. You have a player like Mohsin Khan, who brings something different. You should always have an X-factor where you're a little different in counting. And also, Mayank's [Yadav] name is very popular. Look, for Mayank, you'll have to keep one thing in mind: he has pace, but he hasn't played much cricket. Last year, he was a part of Lucknow Super Giants, but he didn't play. He was injured. So, do you want to take a guy who has pace, but he's getting injured again and again? And that's why I'm not taking Mohsin Khan's name. Quality-wise, if you want to take Mohsin Khan, he brings something that will put the pitch on the edge. He has height, he's good at hitting the deck hard. His pace is around 140. So, if you look here, the biggest problem the Indian team has is the combination of fast bowling. It's very important to fix that combination. So, go towards experience. With Bumrah, you can see Siraj and Arshdeep there. Which I don't think is ideal, but this is the only option you have now.”

Also read: ‘We are only thinking about the potential’ - Irfan Pathan urges BCCI to stop obsessing over Hardik Pandya

Pathan’s co-panellist K Srikkanth did not agree with the choice, stating that not Siraj but Avesh Khan should be the third pacer alongside Bumrah and Arshdeep.

“Bumrah is in the squad. Arshdeep as well. But the third pacer can't be Siraj. He'll bowl well in one game and then not perform in 10 games. He's an erratic bowler, you saw it in the World Cup. So that's why I'm saying we should look at who's bowling well in the death overs. That is Avesh Khan. He's been performing well and he's done well on the international front, he has a little experience as well. He's mastered the wide yorkers also. So, my third pacer will be Avesh Khan.  So why Siraj, yes he can bowl in the beginning but not at the end. I will not be taking Siraj."

Tom Moody, however, stood in agreement with Pathan, reckoning that Mohammed Siraj must be backed for the World Cup. "I made this point about two weeks ago about Mohammad Siraj. He looks mentally and physically fatigued. I think he's come into this IPL having played a lot of all format cricket for India for a long period of time. I think that's part of the reason he's had his challenges with the ball.

Also read: India's T20 World Cup squad will be the toughest selections any country will have: Tom Moody

"Secondly, he plays his cricket in the IPL at probably the hardest venue whether you bowl quick or you bowl spin. So that needs to be taken into consideration. The third thing is he's playing in a poor side. RCB have been a poor side this year and it's very hard to rise with what's happening around you. And with all those layers put together, that's what we are seeing performance wise.

"I would back him 100% to step up in the world cup, purely because if you look historically what he's done for India, and even what he did in the IPL last year, and you know his abilities in T20 cricket, he has been outstanding. So, for me, he's taking the new ball with Bumrah, because I'm looking to take early wickets in the power play."