Mohammed Siraj, a star India fast bowler, has been in outstanding form recently, spearheading the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowling attack and taking wickets in the powerplay.
The 29-year-old briefly topped the ICC ODI rankings earlier this year and has ensured that the squad does not miss the services of injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
Siraj’s rise has come at an opportune moment for India, who will host the ODI World Cup 2023 in October and November and sorely need their pace attack to fire with Bumrah’s availability unknown.
Former India seamer RP Singh commented on Siraj’s spectacular rise, saying that the seamer has worked on his wrist position and follow through, which has worked wonders for him.
“I have been following Siraj for a long time now. When he joined the Indian team, his graph was really high and then slowly it started falling. But it is good to see that he has worked on a lot of things this time, fitness being a major point. Now if you look at the technical bit, he has worked a lot on his wrist position and follow through for which he is getting the ball top bounce better and is also bowling stump-to-stump,”
RP Singh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
RP went on to say that the Hyderabad-born seamer has the potential to be Bumrah’s replacement and that if his graph continues to rise, he may be the next Mohammed Shami.
“Of course, he can be a replacement for Bumrah. In fact, I feel, if his graph continues to increase he can be the next Mohammed Shami,”
he said.
Siraj is the equal third-highest wicket-taker in the present IPL 2023, with 15 wickets from nine matches at an average of 17.13 and an economy of 7.34.
Eight of his 15 wickets have come in the powerplay, and he is also the only bowler with an economy rate of less than six in the first six overs among those who have bowled at least 10 overs at that time.
Siraj has transformed himself from having an economy of 10.23 during powerplay in IPL 2022 to conceding less than a run-a-ball in the current season. Indian supporters will be hoping that the top seamer maintains his fantastic form in the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup in 2023.
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