Former opener Aakash Chopra feels the absence of a wicket-taking third fast bowler was India’s biggest issue in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. He mentioned that Mohammed Siraj was burned out, with Jasprit Bumrah absence proving costly in the fifth and final red-ball match at the Sydney Cricket Ground

Australia defeated India by six wickets on Sunday to complete a 3-1 win over the visitors. Siraj claimed 20 wickets in 157.1 overs and wasn’t at his best in the fourth innings of the final contest.

Aakash Chopra said the absence of an ideal fast bowler to help Bumrah and Siraj impacted the team’s chances in the five-match Test series.

“Fast bowlers hunt in a pack but India failed to prepare that pack. Mohammed Shami”s injury was a big blow. Harshit Rana was given two games and then the team went with Akash Deep. He was replaced by Prasidh Krishna in the last Test,” he said.

“Siraj bowled the most overs for India. He was cooked and kept bowling across formats in international cricket. He gave his best but he was cooked, roasted and toasted in the end,” he added.

Aakash Chopra further stated that Australia got an ideal replacement in the form of Scott Boland when Josh Hazlewood was ruled out due to an injury. He added that Boland was even better than Hazlewood.