Former India coach Greg Chappell feels that Mohammed Siraj is ready to be the actual leader of the Indian attack, with or without Jasprit Bumrah in the side. Siraj produced a stunning performance on Day 5 of the Oval Test to hand India the win and help them level the series. This happened in the absence of Bumrah, as the star pacer was rested for the game as part of his workload management.
Mohammed Siraj returned home as a national hero after India drew the England tour 2-2, with a thrilling 6-wicket win in the final Test at the Oval. The Hyderabad pacer bagged a 9-wicket match haul in the fifth Test, bagging the Player of the Match award for his match-winning spell on the final day. Siraj ended the tour as the highest wicket-taker of the series, picking up 23 scalps in 5 matches.
While Jasprit Bumrah was available for just three out of five Test matches, Siraj played throughout the tour and bowled a total of 185.3 overs. In fact, whenever the World No. 1 missed out, Siraj stepped up and made a valuable contribution.
Writing in his column on ESPNCricinfo, Former India head coach Greg Chappell has lauded Siraj said that the 31-year-old’s performance at the Oval was a true coming-of-age performance.
“To be fair, he has turned in many fine performances before, at the MCG, the Gabba, Perth, Lord’s, Cape Town and Birmingham, but what he did at The Oval was his true coming of age. With or without Bumrah, he is ready to be the spiritual as well as actual leader of Gill’s attack,” said Chappell.
“To bowl more than 185 overs in five Test matches over six weeks in any conditions is a physical, mental and emotional marathon. To do so with consistent intensity, while carrying the attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah for stretches, is bordering on heroic. Siraj’s final-innings spell at The Oval – culminating in nine wickets for the match – sealed the game. But it was what led to that moment that truly stood out,” Chappell wrote in his latest column, ‘India’s win at The Oval might herald a golden era for them’
He added While the Indian batters, led by Shubman Gill, scored a lot of runs, Chappell said that Siraj was the reason India looked competitive in the series. Chappell wrote that the Indian quick began the series as a second fiddle and was low on confidence, but he grew with every game and ended up being a hero.
“I don’t think it is unfair to say that, despite the many wonderful batting efforts, Siraj was the main reason that India was competitive in the series,” Chappell wrote.
