The Hyderabadi star Cricketer “Siraj is the ‘glorious lamp’ of Indian Cricket; likely to shine better in future” is a high compliment for the Indian fast bowler. It suggests that he is a valuable asset to the team and has the potential to become even better in the years to come.
Toofani Siraj slammed into Sri Lanka caused total destruction in a short span. Seldom has a fast bowler had such an impact on the outcome of an ODI match.
When he broke the back of the Sri Lankan batting in one single over, Siraj’s performance brought to mind the feats of the towering West Indian fast bowlers of the past.
Siraj has already made a significant impact on the Indian team since making his international debut in 2018. He has taken over 100 wickets in Test cricket and over 50 wickets in ODI cricket. He is known for his pace, accuracy, and swing, and he has the ability to bowl long spells.
One of the things that makes Siraj so special is his mental toughness. He has overcome a lot in his personal life, including the loss of his father in 2020. This has made him a stronger person and a more resilient cricketer.
Siraj is also a very hard worker. He is always looking for ways to improve his game. He is also a team player and is always willing to help his teammates.
There was the same accuracy, aggression and domination that had till now been associated only with the likes of Joel Garner, Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose and others. It is a good sign for India that Siraj is hitting his peak before the World Cup gets underway.
But what was most endearing about Siraj was that he also showed a rare and kind hearted side of his character. After winning the Man of the Match award, he dedicated his achievement to the groundsmen who had worked very hard to ensure that the matches were played despite the heavy rains that hit the event.
He donated his entire prize money of USD 5000 to the ground staff of Sri Lankan cricket. “This cash prize goes to the groundsmen. They deserve it fully. This tournament could not have been held without them,” said Siraj after his match winning performance. It was the act of a genuine and generous sportsman who made India proud in many ways.
The stunning spell of bowling by Siraj saw him take six wickets for only 21 runs in seven overs. It was one of the best displays of bowling seen in the Asia Cup and Sri Lanka was blown away for an embarrassingly low score of 50. India chased down the target in nly 6.1 overs without losing any wickets.
Analysing his own performance Siraj said: “I have been bowling well for quite a while. In the earlier matches the batters were getting beaten but today I found the edges. I tried to hit the right areas. The wicket was seaming during the last two matches. Today there was some swing available so I tried to make the batters play as much as possible.”
“Because the ball was swinging, I thought of bowling the ball up to the batters. I executed my plans and it was successful. The pitch was very good, there was a decent amount of early swing, and I felt it was a bit damp. When fast bowlers establish a good bonding with each other, pressure is created and we get wickets,” he added.
Siraj’s fans in Hyderabad will be doubly happy with the result. Because it indicated that Siraj has emerged from the shadows of his more senior bowlers and can now be considered as India’s leading hope for the future. His six for 21 will remain in memory for a long time.
All of these factors suggest that Siraj has the potential to become one of the greatest fast bowlers in Indian history. He is still young and has many years of cricket ahead of him. If he can continue to work hard and improve his game, there is no doubt that he will shine even brighter in the future. ■ #hydnews #khabarlive #hydkhabar
