Wasim Akram kicks aside Jasprit Bumrah as he picks best India pacer

Former Pakistani pacer Wasim Akram has sidelined Jasprit Bumrah to name Mohammed Siraj as the best he has seen in the recent past, and seemed impressed by his lethal bowling in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

India ended the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with a draw after a famous win at The Oval, the narrowest yet the most memorable among the Indian Cricket team's Test wins in England.

The match not only reinforced India in Test cricket after their successive losses against New Zealand and Australia, but also proved that India is no longer dependent on only a few of their players.

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This proved to Indian fans that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's legacy might be missed, but not their contributions to the Indian batting order, as India has a great bunch of talent to take the game ahead.

Wasim Akram picks his 'best' Indian bowler - Ignores Jasprit Bumrah

Wasim Akram, the legendary Pakistani fast bowler, sidelined the likes of the great Jasprit Bumrah and picked Mohammed Siraj as India's 'best' bowler. Mohammed Siraj bowled 185.3 overs in the series and ended up as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps.

Wasim Akram was left in awe after witnessing Mohammed Siraj's grit on the final day of the Oval Test, where the Indian bowler cleaned the English tail with three more wickets on that day alongside Prasidh Krishna. He has referred to Siraj's performance as "the best" he has seen in the recent past.

"I rarely watch cricket when I'm not working, but I was glued to the last day. Siraj was full of hunger and passion – it was an incredible effort. To bowl nearly 186 overs across five Tests and still be that fiery on the final day shows remarkable stamina and mental strength."

"He's not just a support bowler anymore. He's leading the attack and doing it with heart. Even when a catch went down– that of Brook – he didn't lose focus. That's the mark of a fighter. Test cricket is alive and kicking," Akram said in an interview with Telecom Asia Sport.

Akram's win probability inclined towards India on Day 5 of The Oval Test

The former Pakistan legend has not only praised Mohammed Siraj but also backed the abilities of the Indian team and reflected on how much faith he has in the Indian lineup. He clearly stated that he gave a 60% chance of winning the contest to the Indians.

Akram went on to say he always considered India the favourites on the final day. "I gave India a 60 per cent chance on Day 5. They just needed that first breakthrough. With Woakes injured and India sensing blood, it was game on. Siraj made it possible."

Mohammed Siraj receives immense praise for workload amid Jasprit Bumrah's criticism

After Jasprit Bumrah pulled out of the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy played at The Oval, cricket pundits and fans have repeatedly launched attacks on the Indian star Jasprit Bumrah for not being available for the team when they needed him the most in a do-or-die condition.

On the contrary, Mohammed Siraj, the Indian pacer who led the attack in the two games in Bumrah's absence in Edgbaston and at The Oval, led from the front and picked up several wickets alongside leading India to two wins, and has received much appreciation from ICT fans and cricket legends around the globe.

Especially after Siraj's Oval wonder, he was coined as the leading bowler and earned immense appreciation, while former legend Kapil Dev also claimed that India needs more bowlers like Siraj who can give their 100% with the ball every time the team needs them to deliver.

ALSO READ: Not Jasprit Bumrah! India need more players like Mohammed Siraj: Kapil Dev drops bombshell