Jasprit Bumrah Not Important For Team India Anymore, BCCI Finds His Replacement In Virat Kohli's Disciple

Jasprit Bumrah Not Important For Team India Anymore, BCCI Finds His Replacement In Virat Kohli’s Disciple.

On January 15, at Thiruvananthapuram, Team India defeated Sri Lanka by a record-breaking 317 runs. Wasim Jaffer then made a strong statement about bowler Mohammed Siraj.

The former opener claims that when Siraj bowls as brilliantly as he did in the third ODI, Jasprit Bumrah’s absence is made up for. In the third ODI against Sri Lanka on Sunday, Siraj, who has been brilliant in recent months in white-ball cricket, scored 4-32.

He managed to get four of the first five wickets to fall as the Lankans failed to reach their ambitious target of 391 and were bowled out for 73 in 22 overs. The in-form 28-year-old fast bowler claimed the lives of Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Nuwanidu Fernando, and Wanindu Hasaranga as Sri Lanka lost half of their side for 37 in just 10 overs.

You Forget Jasprit Bumrah When Mohammed Siraj Bowls Like That: Wasim Jaffer

Jaffer applauded the Hyderabad cricketer’s remarkable performance and told ESPNcricinfo about it:

“You can feel the progress he has made as a white-ball bowler. His red-ball bowling is top notch, but the way he has improved in white-ball cricket in the last year or so is amazing. In a way, you don’t miss Bumrah when Siraj is bowling like that. When Bumrah is not being missed, you can understand how much value Siraj brings in.”

Jaffer attributed the fast bowler’s impressive advancements in the white-ball forms to some genuine talent backed by his aggressivity. The previous opener stated:

“Siraj has been magnificent. He’s very aggressive, always at the batsmen. When things are not happening, he is trying to make some inroads. Phenomenal, getting the batters out with the new ball is not easy. The way he makes the ball talk, swinging it both ways, pretty skillful stuff from Siraj.”

When asked about Siraj’s rise to prominence as a pacer in international cricket, veteran Sri Lankan all-rounder Farveez Maharoof cited the cricketer’s wrist position as his most exceptional trait. He explained:

“When Siraj burst onto the scene few years back, he didn’t swing the ball the way he is doing at the moment. His wrist position is really good. The way he set up Hasaranga goes to show a bowler on top of his game and one who trusts his skills. He’s top-notch; he’s got the pace, bounce. Very impressed with his wrist position.”

In addition to his 15 Test wickets, Siraj has taken 46 wickets in 15 Tests, 33 in 19 ODIs, and 11 in 8 T20Is.