Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has praised the performance of fast bowler Mohammed Siraj in the recent 3-0 ODI series victory over Sri Lanka. Siraj finished the series with 9 wickets, the most by a bowler, at an economy of 4.05. Kaif believes that Siraj's performance has been one of the biggest takeaways from the series and will play an important role in India's quest to win the World Cup on home soil.
"Three key takeaways would be firstly, I think Mohammed Siraj. Wanting to win the World Cup in India on flat conditions, I think Mohammed Siraj has done so well. If you see the last couple of matches he's been really bowling well, getting the breakthrough with the new ball. Mohammed Shami is also back but is unable to find a victim with the new ball, on the other hand Mohammed Siraj has done a great job. He has got wickets even when he comes in to bowl towards the end," said Kaif on 'Follow The Blues' show on Star Sports.
Kaif also highlighted the positive impact of India's new opening combination, consisting of captain Rohit Sharma and young talent Shubman Gill. He believes that both players complement each other well and possess the capability to stay on the pitch for a longer time, making them difficult to bowl against.
"I think both the batters got similarities because they like to play on the back foot. The way they play square of the wicket, they like to play pull shots and not so much of foot work but the way they play square of the wicket, the fine leg and through the cover points is fantastic to see. Appealing to the eyes, both the batsmen have got elegance. The way Rohit Sharma has started as a captain, he's trying to set that tone in the power play, stepping out and playing over point pulling the ball. I think he knows that if India wants to win the World Cup, he should be the one as the aggressor in the power play," said Kaif.
However, Kaif also pointed out areas that India needs to improve on, specifically their death bowling. He believes that with the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, India needs to work on their death overs and find a way to take wickets.
"They are bowling well with the old ball. They have the bowler who can pick wickets, Mohammed Siraj with the new ball, he's taking wickets. They got Axar 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 death overs, in the first ODI we seen that in the last 13 overs there was no wicket taken by the Indian bowlers. I think India needs to improve their death bowling especially in the last 10-12 overs," he concluded.
The next assignment for India in their home season is three ODIs against top-ranked side New Zealand, starting from Wednesday in Hyderabad, followed by matches in Raipur and Indore.