Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has hailed the performance of Mohammed Siraj in the first ODI against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad on Wednesday after the home team narrowly won by 12 runs to take a 1-0 lead.
India was under the pump in the run-chase as Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner were going all guns blazing. The hosts needed a wicket and Mohammed Siraj was able to break the 162-run partnership as he dismissed Santner.
Subsequently, Siraj accounted for Henry Shipley to put India on top in his final over. The local lad, playing his first ODI match on his home ground, returned with impressive figures of 4-46 in the 10 overs he bowled and he was the pick of the bowlers. Thus, he played a key role in restricting the opposition at 337. Earlier in the innings, Siraj dismissed Devon Conway and Tom Latham with short-pitched deliveries.
Mohammad Kaif said on Star Sports, ”He has huge courage because the pressure under which he came to bowl, it was an extremely important moment when he picked up two wickets in an over. Rohit Sharma was searching for someone who could put his hand up, that Bumrah is not there, but he didn’t get any bowler in the death overs.”
Kaif added Siraj was brave when he bowled to Bracewell and Santner at the fag end of the innings.
“It was an old and slightly wet ball. Forget about skill, you need courage here where nothing was happening with the ball, Bracewell and Santner were hitting one six after another and it was a pressure situation.”
Siraj made the most of the short ball as he got three wickets with it. The right-arm pacer was accurate with his line and length and reaped rewards for the same.
“You might be in great form but when you run with the ball, there are doubts whether you should bowl yorkers or slower balls. There he bowled a bouncer and trapped Santner. He picked up three big wickets with bouncers.”
“He tried to bowl full first to check the swing but the swing was not available. Then he came to the short ball. He didn’t bowl short balls in the entire series against Sri Lanka but here his plan was to bowl bouncers as the ball was not swinging.”
“He dismissed Conway with a bouncer, then got Latham out and then Santner who was set. After that, two wickets in an over. It shows Mohammed Siraj has the ability to change the game in an over.”
Mohammed Siraj has taken giant strides in the recent past and he has definitely grown in confidence. Siraj will be in action in the second ODI against the Kiwis on Saturday.
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