Should India ponder giving Mohammed Siraj a break for BGT 2024-25 4th Test?

The fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 will begin on December 26 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the big question is if India will pick Mohammed Siraj in the playing XI. Siraj was a part of the team in the first three Tests and scalped 13 wickets in six innings.

While Siraj was excellent in Perth, where he bagged five wickets for 71 runs across two innings, his performance declined in Adelaide. In the pink-ball game, Siraj returned figures of 4/98 and 0/9. Next, in Brisbane, Siraj bowled spells of 2/97 and 2/36.

With the likes of Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna sitting on the bench, the team management might have thought about giving Mohammed Siraj a break for the next Test. However, here's why they should not do so.

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Why resting Mohammed Siraj for the MCG Test will be the wrong move

Although Siraj's performances have declined after the Perth Test, he still managed to take important wickets for the team in Brisbane and Adelaide. Notably, he dismissed Travis Head in both the matches. Head is the highest run-getter in the series so far.

Apart from that, Siraj has the experience of playing Test cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He made his Test debut at the iconic MCG on December 26, 2020, and in that game, he returned figures of 2/40 & 3/37.

Prasidh Krishna has played only two Tests for India, where he has taken two wickets at an average of 65. Meanwhile, Harshit Rana was dropped from the team after his disappointing performance in Adelaide. It will not be a wise move to leave Siraj out for either Krishna or Rana.

Hence, the team management should not consider giving Siraj a break. There was enough of a gap between the third and fourth Tests to ensure proper recovery for the Indian pacer.