South African legend Dale Steyn has included India’s Mohammed Siraj as one of the pacers to watch out for in the upcoming World Cup 2023, starting in October.
Siraj has had an exceptional year in 2023, particularly in ODIs. He started the year at a lowly 137th position in the ODI bowling rankings but managed to climb to the top spot by the end of the year. This remarkable journey was marked by his outstanding performances in various matches, including the Asia Cup 2023.
In the Asia Cup 2023, Siraj’s performance was nothing short of sensational. He played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the tournament, especially in the final match against Sri Lanka on September 17, 2023. In this match, Siraj delivered a dream spell of seam and swing bowling, taking six wickets for just 21 runs. His extraordinary figures included a four-wicket over, a rare feat in men’s ODI history. This performance not only helped India defeat Sri Lanka by 10 wickets but also earned Siraj the Man of the Match award.
Siraj’s performance in the Asia Cup 2023 final was so impressive that it led to him reclaiming the number one spot in the ICC Men’s ODI bowling rankings. He had previously held this position from January to March 2023 before being displaced by Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood. However, his six-wicket haul in the Asia Cup final propelled him back to the top of the rankings.
Speaking to ICC, Steyn picked Siraj in his list of pacers to watch out for and said he would be a key player for India in the tournament.
“So my five fast bowlers to watch out in this tournament are Mohammad Siraj from India. Swings the ball up front, knocks over big batters. Key player for India,” said Steyn.
Steyn’s list also included Kagiso Rabada, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mark Wood and Trent Boult, apart from Siraj.
