Our Bureau
Mumbai
Before the start of the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy, Indian fans were worried as they were informed that their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is only going to play three matches in the series. However, what no one expected was the resurgence of Mohammed Siraj as the leader of the attack in the absence of Bumrah as he ended the series as the leading wicket-taker with 23 scalps to his name.
It was amazing to see how Siraj took the bulk of the responsibility and carried the Indian team on his back and helped them win both matches in which Bumrah wasn’t present. Siraj in a recent interview stated that his performance always grows when he has been given the responsibility. He stated that he gets the joy and a boost of confidence to shut those who keep criticising him.
“When I get an opportunity to shoulder responsibility, even if you look at a mundane series, my performance always grows. Responsibility gives me a different kind of joy, and boosts my confidence. I told you at Edgbaston that people are talking about me, and it’s time to make all that talk stop. I usually am very aware of what I’m doing, and do not pay heed to what people are saying because people do not know my struggle. Despite that, I thought it’s time to stop such talk because it was getting too much,” he said.
The star pacer also talked about the series saying that he tried to keep positive vibes in the bowling unit in the absence of Bumrah. He led the young pace battery of the Indian team and before the final test infused belief in them that they can repeat their performance from the second match.
“With Jassi Bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) not being there due to his back injury and his workload being managed, I tried my bit to keep the positivity in the bowling unit. Whenever I was talking to my teammates, Akash Deep and all, I was trying to spread the belief that we can do it. We can repeat what we have done already,” Siraj explained.
