Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer heaped praise on Mohammed Siraj after the pacer delivered yet another match-winning performance for Team India in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka.
On Sunday, January 15, Siraj returned with brilliant figures of 4/32 in his 10 overs to help India bundle out Sri Lanka for just 73 runs while chasing a mammoth 391-run target, as the Men in Blue recorded the largest win ever by margin of runs in the history of ODI cricket.
Siraj finished the ODI series as the highest wicket taker with 9 scalps in 3 ODIs, and Jaffer said that the pacer made such impact in the team that they didn’t miss their premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah in ODIs.
Wasim Jaffer was quoted as saying on ESPNCricinfo: “You can see the progress he has made as a white-ball bowler. His red-ball bowling is top-notch, but the way he has improved in the last year or so is amazing. In a way, you don’t miss Bumrah when Siraj is bowling like that. When Bumrah is not being missed, you can understand the value Siraj brings in.”
Jaffer also lauded Umran Malik, who picked up 5 wickets in 2 ODIs against Sri Lanka. He said, “And also, Umran Malik, he has been one of the positives in the series as well for the way he has bowled even though he was a little expensive, but Siraj has been magnificent.”
The former cricketer signed off by saying, “He is very aggressive, always at the batters. When things are not happening, he is trying to make some inroads. Getting the batters out with the new ball isn’t easy. The way he makes the ball talk, swinging it both ways, pretty skilful stuff from Siraj.”
