The Indian cricket team is scheduled to begin a three-match T20 series against Afghanistan tomorrow, September 13. Just before the start of this crucial series, star fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has received a major boost. Siraj has been appointed as the captain of the Hyderabad team for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.
HCA Names Mohammed Siraj as Ranji Captain
The Senior Selection Committee of the Hyderabad Cricket Association announced the decision for the upcoming domestic season. This is not the first time Siraj will lead the state side. During the previous Ranji Trophy season, he made his captaincy debut for Hyderabad after taking over the reins from Rahul Singh. Under his leadership last season, Hyderabad played matches against powerhouse Mumbai and Chhattisgarh. However, the team suffered defeats in both encounters. Siraj is still hunting for his maiden victory as captain and will look to turn things around in the upcoming season.
Bilateral Context and National Team Duties
The announcement comes at a time when India is gearing up for the T20 series against Afghanistan. The bilateral contest between the two sides has seen various tactical experiments recently. Earlier in June, there was suspense surrounding Siraj's participation, which was eventually cleared. The assistant coach had confirmed that India would field three spinners against Afghanistan, with Siraj leading the pace attack. During those matches, India dominated with centuries from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, supported by Salim Saifi's brilliant bowling performance. The squad selection for the Afghanistan series had also made headlines earlier when 11 players from Gujarat Titans were selected, followed by some major shake-ups in the ODI squad where four players were dropped shortly after one had scored a century.
