Mohammed Siraj hits six-sixer in Galle during match against Sri Lanka

Former Pakistani fast bowler Saeeb Akhtar, known as the Rawalpindi Express for his speed, continues to attract global cricket attention even after retiring. He himself helped Pakistan secure victories in several important matches.

According to Akhtar, if he had had leadership like Imran Khan's during his era, his Test career could have changed drastically. Akhtar admitted that he still regrets that the dream of playing under Imran Khan remained unfulfilled. He noted that instead of the 178 Test wickets he has, he could have taken over 400.

Discussing this with a Pakistani television channel, Saeeb stated that he took more than 400 wickets in first-class matches. However, in international Tests, he managed only 178 wickets in 46 games. Akhtar emphasized that Imran Khan had a talent for identifying players' best potential. When Saeeb debuted in Tests in 1997, Imran had already left international sports.

Saeeb's entire career was under different captains, and it involved many controversial moments. At the beginning of his career, Wasim Akram was the captain, and there were rumors that he initially did not want Saeeb to debut. Nevertheless, later they showed brilliant play together during the tour of India in 1999 and at the 1999 World Cup, where Pakistan reached the final.

Saeeb's career ended during the 2011 World Cup. During this period, reports emerged about disagreements between Saeeb Akhtar and the then-captain Shahid Afridi. Saeeb recounted that maintaining his pace required a daily struggle. An injection was used to draw fluid from his knees. He also mentioned that before team practice, he had to cycle and work out in the gym to relieve spasms in his knees. Injections and medication were administered into his knees, followed by ice therapy. After a match, it took him five hours to recover his body. Furthermore, Saeeb scored 247 runs in 163 one-day matches and took 21 wickets in 15 T20 matches.

India's captain Shubman Gill indicated before the start of the first Test against Sri Lanka, which begins on Saturday, that experienced Mohammed Siraj might take the new ball alongside the known Prasad.

Nevertheless, he called the choice between the young and experienced fast bowler Gurnoor Barar and Prasad a 'difficult decision'. In this match, India could field three left-arm spinners: Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Sutara, and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. Siraj's place in the fast bowling attack is practically secured, while among the other three options are Prasad, Gurnoor, and Akib Nabi, whose chances are currently considered slim.

Gill noted that although Gurnoor stands at six feet five inches, Prasad is slightly shorter but possesses experience from 7 Tests and 25 wickets. Before the match, Gill stated: 'Gurnoor plays the old ball excellently and can achieve good pace and bounce. But Prasad has also performed well recently, as we saw in the practice match. So it is a difficult decision.'

With Jasprit Bumrah absent due to a knee injury, this series presents a major opportunity for players like Prasad and Gurnoor to prove their worth. Gill emphasized: 'Bumrah is not here, but it is a chance for someone else to take responsibility. We just need to understand the tempo of the game.'

In the batting lineup, left-handed Devdutt Padikkal is expected to take the number three position instead of Sai Sudarshan. Furthermore, despite poor performance in recent Tests, Duruv Jurel is likely to get another chance in the middle order.

Highlighting confidence in young players, Gill said: 'Players develop themselves; we must give them time. Some players need a little time.' He also refuted rumors of a communication breakdown between the team management and the Bangalore High Performance Centre regarding Sai Sudarshan's physical condition. Gill replied: 'We communicate with them constantly. Unfortunately, Sai Sudarshan has not been able to improve his form as we wanted. In Test cricket, we cannot take risks, but we have complete faith in our 15 players.'

Gill, who took over the leadership of the team almost a year ago, stated that he now feels confident in this role. In his view, the series against Sri Lanka gives India a chance to return to the World Test Championship race. He added: 'I feel comfortable in the role of captain now. Our goal is to stay in the World Test Championship final race. To do this, we need to win 6 or 7 Tests, so we want to start with this.'

The first match against Sri Lanka will also be historic for Indian cricket, as it will be India's 600th Test match since 1932. Gill remarked: 'Being the captain of your country in the 600th Test is an honour, and doing it on Independence Day makes it even more special.'

The Indian team is on a tour of Sri Lanka, where it is scheduled to play two Test matches against the host team. Before the start of the Test series, the Indian team is conducting a three-day practice match against the Sri Lankan XI at the NCC Ground in Colombo.

In this practice match, the Sri Lankan XI won the toss and decided to bat first. However, more than the match itself attracted attention was the new appearance of Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj.

When Mohammed Siraj took the field for the practice match, his new hairstyle immediately drew attention. Siraj gave his hair a new look, featuring subtle highlights. This look in the Test kit is a drastic departure from his previous hairstyles. Nevertheless, a change in hairstyle is not new for Siraj, as he has previously changed his appearance. His new style once again became noticeable during his visit to Sri Lanka.

Mohammed Siraj is known for his aggressive play and ability to celebrate emotionally on the field. However, for Siraj, the visit to Sri Lanka will be special not only because of his appearance; his responsibility on the field will be significantly higher. Since Jasprit Bumrah is excluded from the Test series, Siraj acts as the most experienced face in the Indian fast bowling attack. Therefore, it is expected that he will not only cope with the new ball but also regularly score points.

Mohammed Siraj has previously bowled many important spells for India in foreign conditions. There is a possibility that spinners will be more useful on Sri Lankan pitches, but the new ball and reverse swing could become important tools for fast bowlers. It should be noted that Siraj is a DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) in the Telangana police. He was appointed to this position in October 2024.

The practice match against Sri Lanka XI is also significant for determining the Indian squad. The team faces the question of selecting a second fast bowler alongside Mohammed Siraj. In Bumrah's absence, there are options such as Gunnor Bharath, Prasidh Krishna, and Akib Nabi. Thus, the coaching staff is closely monitoring the players' performances in the warm-up match.

Before the practice match, the Indian team faced concerns regarding the physical condition of captain Shubman Gill. On Thursday during training, Gill sustained an injury to the little finger of his right hand. As a precaution, he was not fielded on the first day of the practice match, and Kell Rahul took charge of the team.