India vs New Zealand: Harshal Patel can replace Mohammed Siraj in 2nd T20I, says Dinesh Karthik

Veteran India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes IPL 2021 Purple Cap winner Harshal Patel will be a suitable replacement for Mohammed Siraj in the second T20I against New Zealand. Karthik pointed out that both Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan are in top form, but the RCB pacer’s change of pace will help in Ranchi.

Siraj had a far from decent outing against New Zealand in the first T20I as the young pacer leaked 39 runs in his four overs while picking up the wicket of Rachin Ravindra.

“Both of them are bowling at the best of their careers so far… So you can blindly play any one of them. I personally feel Harshal Patel will be better because obviously, you know, the change of pace in Ranchi [which is a] slightly slow wicket,” Dinesh Karthik told Cricbuzz.

“Avesh Khan is very good with slower ones as well but Harshal Patel is bowling with such good rhythm that you want to give him the opportunity and see what he brings to the table. But another way you look at it is – you have somebody who bowls 135 in Deepak Chahar and Bhuvi. If you want someone with more pace then the option is Avesh Khan. It’s a good headache to have…” Karthik added.

Former India batter Ajay Jadeja backed Karthik’s point of view, saying, Harshal Patel would be the better option to bowl the overs which Mohammed Siraj bowled in 1st T20I (4th, 11th, 15th and 20th),

“The way Siraj was used, probably Harshal Patel because he bowled one in the powerplay and two right at the end… what he has done in the IPL, the reason why he’s been picked in the side – his strength is that when the game is moving at a different pace and the batsman is trying to dominate that’s when his slower one becomes more useful. If you have to use him the same way and the others around then Harshal is the one I’ll probably go with,” Ajay Jadeja said in the same interaction.