Mohammed Siraj just took one wicket for India against the West Indies in the ODI series opener on Sunday, but it was enough to impress former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who complimented him as a "whole-hearted and thinking" bowler.
India has taken 10 wickets in the powerplay since the World Cup, with an average of over 120. One of India's greatest worries in the ODI format has been picking wickets with the new ball.
India just took one wicket in the first ODI against Kieron Pollard's side, although they did record 49 dot balls during that period. Mohammed Siraj, a young man, was crucial in this. In just the third over of the match, he dismissed Shai Hope and concluded the powerplay with figures of 5-2-13-1.
In an interview with Star Sports, Gavaskar was effusive in his admiration for Siraj, praising his effort and intensity throughout each of his deliveries.
“He was very good. And he keeps on improving. He has always been a whole-hearted bowler. You see the first ball that he bowls and the last ball that he bowls at the end of the day, he is running in with the same energy. That is what every captain is looking for. Somebody who is going to give 100 percent every single time,” he said.
Siraj's return in the third over, where he was thrashed for two consecutive boundaries before bowling that scrambled-seam delivery that took the inside edge of the bat and rattled against the stumps, was analyzed by the renowned batsman.
“You can see that...the first two boundaries that were hit of him were deliveries where he was trying to move away. He had two slips in position so the thinking was good...if the ball was bouncing a little more the catch would go to the second slip. Then he bowled the scrambled seam delivery and got the batsman out. He is a thinking bowler,” he added.
Siraj will only improve when he bowls alongside the senior Indian pace combo of Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, according to Gavaskar.
“The more he is going to bowl along with Jasprit Bumrah or Mohammad Shami, who are both not here... and both stand at mid-off and mid-on when he is bowling and all the time having a word with him. That is such a plus for a young bowler to have two top bowlers talking to him just about every delivery. He is just going to get better and better.”
