Following India's 3-0 ODI series victory over Sri Lanka, India captain Rohit Sharma praised Mohammed Siraj, saying the right-arm fast bowler is improving.
Though centuries from Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill shaped India's 317-run thrashing of Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium, Siraj got the ball moving and ran through the top order to pick up his career-best figures of 4-32 in ten overs. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 73 all out in 22 overs.
India had even kept four slips and a gully for Siraj to get his five-fer, which didn't happen after Kasun Rajitha won a lbw appeal. "That's something I don't recall. It was encouraging to see Siraj bowling well and earning the slips. He is a rare talent based on the way he swings the ball."
"And in recent years, we've seen him grow from strength to strength. We tried all sorts of things to help him get five but he couldn't. But the confidence is there, as evidenced by the way he runs. He's practising a few moves. Without giving it much thought, "Rohit said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
It was a series in which both the Indian batters and bowlers scored runs. "It was a fantastic series for us, in my opinion. We bowled pretty well, got wickets, (made) breakthroughs when we need. Batters throughout the series piling up those runs was good to watch, "Rohit added.
India will play three One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against New Zealand beginning Wednesday in Hyderabad. "We'll get there and see and there will be a change in combination from what we saw today. We want to work as we did in this series to get the result we want, "Rohit explained.
Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka's captain, was disappointed after his team posted the fourth-lowest ODI total.
"It's disappointing. We didn't want this game. It occurs. We must learn how to manage the beginning. Bowlers should practise taking wickets on these surfaces, and batters should practise scoring."
When asked about the injuries sustained by Ashen Bandara and Jeffrey Vandersay as a result of a nasty fielding collision, Shanaka stated, "No idea, will have a look after this finishes. The most important thing is to play positive cricket. The bowling would have been different if the boys had shown more intent. Congratulations to the Indian team on their outstanding performance."