After India’s comprehensive seven-wicket victory against arch-rival Pakistan in the ICC World Cup, star pacer Mohammed Siraj expressed his delight at representing his country in the prestigious tournament. The match was a high-pressure encounter, and Siraj highlighted the significance of playing in an ICC World Cup while acknowledging the challenges he has overcome to reach this stage.
India’s successful run chase, led by the in-form Rohit Sharma, easily surpassed Pakistan’s modest total of 191 runs in the marquee World Cup match held at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
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Although Mohammed Siraj conceded some early runs in the contest, he made a remarkable comeback by taking crucial wickets. He dismissed Abdullah Shafique and later claimed the well-established Babar Azam’s wicket, a pivotal moment in the match.
Speaking about his journey and the opportunity to represent India in a World Cup, Siraj reflected on his humble beginnings: “To be honest, I never thought that I would play in the World Cup, especially coming from a background like mine. But now that I am playing, it’s a matter of great achievement for me. India-Pakistan matches are known for their high-intensity and high-pressure situations, and today I experienced that. Rohit bhai is a legend. He can deliver at any time,” Siraj stated during the post-match presentation.
Addressing his performance in the match, particularly in the context of a more expensive spell against Afghanistan, Siraj emphasized the importance of self-belief. He stated, “Just because you had an off day doesn’t mean that you are a bad bowler. I have faith in myself, and I am content with the way I bowled here. I am not a bad bowler.”
Siraj also shed light on the special delivery that led to the dismissal of Babar Azam. He explained that at that point, Pakistan was playing well, and they had formed a substantial partnership. Describing the delivery, he noted, “It wasn’t that the ball kept low; it had decent bounce but skidded a bit, which got him out.”
Throughout the match, Siraj received valuable support from his fellow bowlers, with Jasprit Bumrah and Kuldeep Yadav contributing significantly to the bowling unit’s success.
Siraj emphasized the collective effort of the bowling unit, stating, “Our bowling unit has been performing well in the last three matches. It’s not about just one person performing; the entire unit is contributing. Even if you don’t take a wicket, building pressure and delivering dot balls is crucial. The team’s success depends on this collective effort, and it provides support to the team. When Jassi [Jasprit Bumrah] bowls, we can observe the ideal line on the wicket. When fielding at the third man position, we can assess the line and gather information from the wicketkeeper about the most effective line on the wicket, making execution easier.”
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