"If They Had To...": Shastri Slams Decision To Send Siraj As Nightwatchman

The Indian cricket team finished on a poor note on the opening day of the third Test match against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Once solidly put at 78/1, India went on to lose three wickets in eight balls to end at 86 for 4 by the end of play on Day 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal departed after stitching a solid partnership of 53 runs with Shubman Gill for the second wicket. What hurt India was the fact that their nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj could last for only one ball. Siraj was dismissed via LBW and also burned one of India's reviews in the process. Former India captain and now commentator Ravi Shastri criticised the idea of sending him as a nightwatchman.

"If they had to send someone, then someone like Ashwin should have been out there. Not only Ashwin is totally capable, can't call him a nightwatchman," said Shastri on air.

"That was reviewed and that was the result. How did I get that wrong, is what Mohammed Siraj is thinking. It can be a lonely place, the dressing room," he added when Siraj went to the dressing room.

India's batters lost the plot in a matter of 20 minutes, leaving the side at a jittery 86/4 after Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar gave the hosts the early bragging rights by dismissing New Zealand for 235 on an eventful day one of the third and final Test in Mumbai on Friday.

Jadeja (5/65) and Sundar (4/81) did their job to perfection but India's batting continued to be a weak link as the side lost three wickets in the space of eight balls, starting with Yashasvi Jaiswal's (30) inexplicable reverse slog sweep.

With his 14th five-for in Tests, Jadeja also moved ahead of former pace bowling teammates Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma to climb to the fifth spot in the list of highest wicket-takers for India in the format.

(With PTI Inputs)