Mohammed Siraj has shouldered the responsibility of being India’s lead fast bowler quite a few times in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with Jasprit Bumrah being rested in two of the five Tests. While his dodgy form had put a bit of a question mark over his place going into the series, his tireless efforts and sheer effectiveness in Bumrah’s absence has shifted perceptions s0mewhat. Siraj has now admitted that while he misses Bumrah when the latter doesn’t play, he does like the extra resonsibility of being India’s spearhead.
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“To be honest, I love responsibility but I also miss Jassi bhai because he is senior bowler, he leads by example as to what we need to bowl to various batsmen,” Siraj told Dinesh Karthik in an interview on Sky Sports on a dramatic Day 3 of the fifth Test at the Oval.
“I like that. When Jassi bhai isn’t around, then you get that confidence that you need to shoulder extra responsibility and I enjoy that. I don’t take extra pressure and try to keep things simple.” Siraj showed an example of that by ending Day 3 with the wicket of Zak Crawley, cleaning him up with a yorker that was quite reminiscent of Bumrah at his best.
Siraj has pretty much been the only member of India’s pace department in this series who has not had to deal with injuries. Indeed, even England bowlers like Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes have had to deal with injury issues with all four of them not taking part at the Oval – Woakes is in the squad but was ruled out with a shoulder injury he sustained while fielding during Day 1 of the match.
Siraj has bowled over a whopping 157 overs in the series thus far, only Woakes has bowled more than that. “I don’t think about breaking down. I only think about the match. I love playing for the country and I want to give everything to the country. I keep my plans simple and try to give my everything and results do follow,” he said.
