In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj took the opportunity to be the premier pacer of the Indian team with both hands and left no stone unturned to make people sit up and take notice thanks to his remarkable bowling performance in the recent ODIs.
Siraj stole the show with his outstanding performance in the recent ODI series against New Zealand, taking five wickets in two matches, as Team India recorded its second consecutive ODI series whitewash this year.
Earlier, the Indian pacer took nine wickets against Sri Lanka to be the leading wicket-taker for the three-game ODI series at home.
The 28-year-old became the world’s number-one bowler in ODI cricket with 37 wickets from 20 matches. Having been impressed by one of India's most consistent fast bowlers, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar called Siraj "a complete seam bowler."
He also believes that Shubman Gill should be equally credited for the Indian cricket team’s dominating win against the Black Caps, highlighting his "phenomenal" rise in recent times.
Speaking on Star Sports, Sanjay Manjrekar said: “Shubman Gill may have got a double hundred and a hundred. But when you look at the quality and against the toughest opposition in the world, in a big pressure match, Mohammed Siraj is somebody that India have found.”
The commentator continued, “He will be there when the team needs him. He was hardly mentioned in the post-match show. Hardik was talked about. When I have to look at one player who is promising a lot and whose growth has been phenomenal.”
He also hopes Siraj will continue his sizzling performance in all three formats of the game. Manjrekar signed off by saying, “He looks like a complete seam bowler at the moment. That says a lot about any performer and not just this format, in T20Is and Tests as well.”
