'Indian cricket needs more Sirajs' - Kapil Dev showers praise on 'real hero' Mohammed Siraj

Former Indian captain Kapil Dev has commended Mohammed Siraj's efforts with the ball during the recently-concluded five-match Test series between England and India. Kapil even labelled Siraj as a 'real hero' considering the hard work with which he consistently stick to a set plan while bowling. Siraj ended up securing 23 wickets in nine innings, endeing up as the leading wicket-taker of the series.

The erstwhile all-rounder showered praise on how Siraj led the bowling unit despite Jasprit Bumrah's absence in two of the five matches.

"Siraj is a real hero. The good thing is that he did not try to do anything extraordinary. He simply kept the ball in the right areas, especially around off stump and success followed. Siraj was leading the bowling attack [in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence] and he did it courageously. Indian cricket needs more Sirajs," stated Kapil, as quoted by Mid-Day.

That’s a rare and great quality. He never looked under pressure: Kapil

The World Cup-winning captain reflected on Siraj not crumbling under the burden of a catch he had dropped on the fourth day while giving it his absolute all on the final day at The Oval.

"Siraj was in high spirits and lifted the entire team on that last day. [Jamie] Smith was a dangerous batter and when Siraj removed him, it brought the belief back into the Indian team. Siraj dropped a catch on Day Four, yet he bowled his best after that. That’s a rare and great quality. He never looked under pressure. England needed 35 runs and India needed four wickets. This was the situation on the morning of Day Five and we plucked all four wickets. We may not speak better English, but our team has proved that speaking English is not necessary when it comes to winning a cricket match," added Kapil.

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India won the fifth contest by a narrow six-run margin. Siraj ended up with a career-best Test match haul of 9/190 (4/86 and 5/104). The Shubman Gill-led team ended up retaining the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy after levelling the series 2-2.