Siraj joins the party with Wankhede super show

The Hyderabad pacer had struggled for a couple of games but roared back into form against Sri Lanka

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

To take your place in a pace attack that includes Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami demands excellence. To be in the playing XI at the cost of one of the senior pros is proof that you aren't just hype but have plenty of substance too. And when only two of the three are selected to maintain the balance of the overall team combination, to get the nod shows that you are a special talent too.

Mohammed Siraj can sometimes leak runs or be inconsistent but when he gets it right, it's quite the sight. He has attained the position with sheer quality of his performances. When Bumrah was sidelined due to injury, Siraj shouldered the responsibility admirably while proving his white ball credentials for most of the year. Coming into the World Cup, he had 30 wickets in 13 ODIs- his tally has now swelled to 39 wickets in 21 ODIs this year..

In 2022, when Bumrah was available for only five games and Shami played three, Siraj carried the attack in ODIs with 24 wickets in 15 games. That's why when it was time for World Cup, the India captain and coach had no hesitation in picking him ahead of Shami.

The competition for places in the pace attack is intense though. Bumrah is the undisputed leader of the pack while Siraj and Shami vie for the second seamer's role when the other two spots go to the pace bowling all-rounders as the team searches for batting depth.