India wrapped up a dominating three-match series against Sri Lanka on Sunday, January 15, when the Men in Blue registered their biggest-ever ODI win by a margin of 317 runs. Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif said that fast bowler Mohammad Siraj was the biggest plus for India during the three-match series.
India’s batting was dominated by century-scorers Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli. After Gill’s 97-ball 116, Kohli scored a brilliant century and remained unbeaten on 166 off 110 balls at the end of India’s quota of 50 overs. But Siraj was phenomenal throughout the series and finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series with nine wickets at an average of 10.22 and an impressive economy of 4.05.
Read also: Punjab Kings appointed Sunil Joshi as spin bowling coach
While talking to Star Sports, Mohammad Kaif said about this, ‘Mohammed Siraj has been the most positive. Want to win the World Cup in India in flat conditions, I think Mohammad Siraj has done so well. If you look at the last few matches, he has been bowling really well, finding success with the new ball. When he finally comes to bowl, he still gets wickets.”
India had sealed the series early by winning the first two matches but completed the whitewash on Sunday. Siraj grabbed headlines in the second innings when he bowled a spell of 4/32 and put the visitors in trouble. They dismissed the entire top-order including Avishka Fernando, Nuvendu Fernando and Kusal Mendis.
Mohammad Siraj finally took the wicket of Wanindu Hasaranga and apart from praising the pacer for his heroics, Mohammad Kaif also claimed that the Men in Blue need to work on their death bowling in the white-ball format as India currently does not have any specialist bowler. Last few overs, Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to injury.
Read also: Robin Uthappa said that some players in the Indian team are insecure
Mohammad Kaif elaborated, “They have Akshar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav who can take wickets in the middle overs. They have Umran Malik who can get wickets in the middle overs. But in the first ODI, we saw that in the last 13 overs, the Indian bowlers did not take any wickets. Shanaka scored 100 in that game, although Sri Lanka lost the game, but I think we need to improve our death bowling. At the same time, we are missing Bumrah a lot because he is a real match-winner, wicket-taker.
