Siraj’s decimating spell in Asia Cup gives Team India a booster shot ahead of World Cup

Mohammed Siraj's 6/21 led to Sri Lanka being bundled up for only 50 runs (PTI image)

Getting your first five-wicket haul just weeks before a World Cup can send your confidence soaring. The feat becomes sweeter when it comes in the Asia Cup final that seals your country’s supremacy in the continent.

That’s what Sunday saw with pace bowler Mohammed Siraj decimating the Sri Lankan side in the Asia Cup final and helping India win the eighth trophy win (seventh in the 50-over format and one in the T20 format) with a magical spell of six wickets for 21 runs in seven overs. The Lankan side recorded their second-lowest ODI total of 50 runs from 15.2 overs in the face-off that took place on September 17.

The 29-year-old Siraj, who hails from Hyderabad, has progressed brilliantly in international cricket since his debut in 2019. He crossed the 50-wicket milestone in the course of his dream spell that saw him bag the fourth-best bowling figures in ODIs for India after Stuart Binny (6/4), Anil Kumble (6/12) and Jasprit Bumrah (6/19).

Former India pace bowler Lakshmipathi Balaji told Moneycontrol after India’s 10-wicket victory said, “Siraj’s new ball skills are amazing”.

Siraj began his dream run with a maiden, took four wickets in his second over and one each in his third and sixth overs to leave Sri Lanka with no chance of a recovery. He used the crease well and foxed the batsmen with some beautiful movement off the pitch.

The right-arm bowler led the Indian pace bowling department to produce a rare instance of the Indian quicks picking up all 10 wickets in an ODI. India, in this Asia Cup, was at the receiving end, giving all 10 wickets to Pakistan pacers in the Group A league match and all 10 wickets to Sri Lankan spinners in the Super Four match. However, when the big match came, it was payback time for the Indian pacers led by Siraj.

Another pleasing sight on Sunday was the Indian bowlers not letting the pressure off the Lankan side till the last wicket. Often it is seen that our bowlers removed the top half or picked up seven or eight wickets in a hurry then let in some slack. However, Siraj and Bumrah picked up the first seven Sri Lankan wickets with next to nothing, while Hardik Pandya polished off the tailenders in no time, even before the lone spinner, Kuldeep Yadav, could make a mark.

The show by Indian pace bowlers will provide immense confidence to Captain Rohit Sharma and Head Coach Rahul Dravid as the team prepares for the World Cup and will play their first match in exactly three weeks.

Balaji, who served as bowling coach for Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy team and also the Chennai Super Kings team, said that it was important for Siraj to do well in the World Cup.

Balaji, who played in eight Tests, 30 ODIs and five T20Is with a combined tally of 71 international wickets, said: “It was very ordinary batting by the Sri Lankans in the final. None of the Lankan batsmen tried to cut down the length. Having said that Siraj’s new ball skills have been phenomenal, especially over the last year and a half. His new ball skills are amazing. In Asian conditions, if you are able to take wickets with the new ball as a right-arm medium-pacer, it adds a lot of value to the team. Siraj is turning out to be a big asset for the Indian team.”

“It is often said that the fast bowlers need to bowl up. You would get only a little bit of help with the new ball in Asian conditions. But, as Siraj has developed in recent times, using the width of the crease, bowling at different angles, it augurs well for India with the World Cup around the corner,” he added. “On the sub-continent wickets normally, for bowlers like Bumrah and Siraj, their backswing is superb. Siraj’s backswing reminds me of Wasim Akram. I used to hear a lot about the late West Indies paceman Malcolm Marshall revelling with his backswing. The backswing they generate, both Bumrah and Siraj have that supreme quality. They are similar with their yorkers, change of pace and accuracy. It is very important for both of them to perform for India going into the World Cup.”

Siraj has developed the knack of picking up wickets with the new ball consistently, be it Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls of New Zealand or Travis Head of Australia in the ODIs earlier this year. “Against teams that have a lot of batting depth like England, Australia and South Africa, Siraj has added variety to his bowling and that is key to picking up wickets with the new ball. He uses the angles well, uses the cutters well and takes the pitch conditions out of the equation. He depends on his skills and not on the pitch, and that is a good sign for India,” Balaji said.

He singled out the delivery that castled Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka as the one that pleased him the most. “He went wide of the crease, the ball angled in, made the batsman play at it and the ball deviated off the pitch. If Siraj is able to do this again and again, he will be lethal,” said Balaji.