Siraj also feels India has better bowling attack than New Zealand for the WTC Final.
India’s latest pace bowler Mohammed Siraj is taking the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand as a World Cup match and he is eager to be part of the mega contest starting on Friday (June 18) at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, England.
Siraj, who has played 5 Tests, 1 ODI, and 3 T20Is for India so far, is eager to be a part of Team India’s playing eleven for the much-awaited WTC 2021 Final and keen on giving his best and win the trophy for his country against New Zealand in Southampton.
Indian cricket team has seasoned campaigners like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Ishant Sharma – who are all fit and available for selection for the WTC Final and it will be very interesting to see whether Siraj, who did exceptionally well in Australia earlier this year, gets the nod for the mega clash.
Siraj told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview, “For me, the World Test Championship final is just like a World Cup match. I will treat the WTC final like that. We have performed so well in the WTC and now this is the final match. I just want to go and give my best if given a chance.”
While New Zealand has had great preparation for the WTC 2021 Final having played and won a two-match Test series this weekend, India played a four-day intra-squad match to get into the groove ahead of the mega clash begins on Friday.
But Siraj is confident that the Indian team will perform great and win the coveted title in Southampton having the whole crop of quality Indian fast bowlers at the side.
The 27-year-old further added, “Our bowling unit is so strong. It's stronger than New Zealand's. Virat bhaiya told me - 'Mian, aise hi perform karte rahoge to bahot aage jaoge" (You will go a long way if you keep performing like this. I am eager to be a part of the playing eleven in the WTC Final. If given an opportunity, I would love to win the final for my team and with it the WTC trophy.”
Read Also: WTC 2021 Final: Team India announce 15-member squad for WTC final against New Zealand
After helping Team India winning the historic Test series in Australia, Siraj now wants to win the World Test Championship Mace for his late father who passed away just a few weeks before his Test debut in Melbourne where he returned with 5 wickets against Australia.
He signed off by saying, “The WTC win will be a tribute to my father. I want to win as many trophies as I can to honor him.”
(With TOI inputs)