IND vs WI: Mohammed Siraj Has Taken Responsibility In Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami's Absence - Zaheer Khan

Indian pace bowling great Zaheer Khan has showered praise on the 29-year-old Mohammed Siraj for taking responsibility to lead the pace attack in the absence of premier speedsters Jasprit Bumrah, who is recovering from his injury, and Mohammed Shami, who has been rested for the West Indies Tests.

Mohammed Siraj has looked sensational with the ball in the ongoing second Test against West Indies at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. He decimated the West Indies batting unit on Day 4 to quickly wrap up the innings and get an amazing 183-run lead for India. Mohammed Siraj ended his spell with the figures of 23.4-6-60-5, which was his best bowling figures in an innings in Test cricket.

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In an interaction on Jio Cinema, pace bowling legend Zaheer Khan said that Siraj used to play a defensive role in the presence of Bumrah and Shami, but in their absence, he has stood up and has led the pace attack brilliantly.

“Siraj has now been with the team for a while and has been playing that third seamer’s role. Bumrah and Shami were the ones who were carrying the pace attack and Siraj played a defensive role. But here, he got the opportunity of taking the responsibility and he has put his hands up. He is turning into a very fine bowler at this level,” Zaheer Khan said.

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You have seen his approach with regards to taking wickets has remained the same – Zaheer Khan on Mohammed Siraj

The 44-year-old further spoke about the wicket-taking approach of Siraj. He elaborated:

“You have seen his approach with regards to taking wickets has remained the same. You have seen him setting those fields, which are predominantly on-side fields since he’s looking to attack the stumps. But the moment the ball started going away from the right-handed batter at the end of Day 3, things started changing for him. He must have planned it like that getting into Day 4.”

Zaheer also praised Siraj for getting early breakthroughs for India which sets the tone for the rest of the innings.

“That early breakthrough always helps and when you get that wicket in the first one or two overs, that sets the tone. How fantastically he bowled that spell. He used the variation of the wobbly seam very well. Those deliveries came at an angle where the batters were forced to play. So, as a batter, you can’t just leave those deliveries,” Zaheer added.

At stumps on Day 4, West Indies were at 76/2 with Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24) and Jermaine Blackwood (20) at the crease. West Indies are still 289 runs away from victory as the Day 5 of the match has been delayed due to rain.

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