Mohammed Siraj Optimistic Ahead of Crucial Third ODI Against New Zealand

Siraj Discusses Team Spirit Before Decisive Match

Indore (Madhya Pradesh) - Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj expressed confidence in the team's morale as they prepare for a pivotal third ODI against New Zealand on January 18. During a pre-match press briefing, Siraj reflected on the team's performance in the series so far, noting that India secured victory in the first match by four wickets but faced a setback in the second, losing by seven wickets.

Siraj remarked, "The atmosphere within the team is excellent. We won the first match and faced defeat in the second, but this upcoming game is crucial for us, presenting a great chance to excel in the third ODI."

He also mentioned that had the team capitalized on opportunities in the second ODI, the outcome might have been different. A key moment was when Prasidh Krishna missed a vital catch of Daryl Mitchell, who subsequently scored an unbeaten century while chasing a target of 285 runs.

Reflecting on the matches, Siraj stated, "We showcased good cricket in both ODIs. In the first match, our bowling and batting were impressive. In the second ODI, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja built a strong partnership, and Nitish Reddy also made significant contributions. However, we missed a crucial catch, which could have altered the match's result."

When questioned about the challenges in dismissing Daryl Mitchell, Siraj acknowledged the New Zealand batsman's strategic approach, stating, "We have made every effort to get Mitchell out, but he has a solid game plan and is accumulating runs during the middle overs. We will strive to dismiss him in the third ODI."

The three-match ODI series is currently tied at 1-1, with the decisive third match set to take place at Holkar Cricket Stadium.

India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (captain), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Ayush Badoni, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel.

New Zealand Squad: Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wicketkeeper), Michael Bracewell (captain), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Jayden Lennox, Nick Kelly, Adithya Ashok, Josh Clarkson, Michael Rae.