'Mohammed Siraj can be a replacement for Bumrah' - RP Singh's bold remark after RCB pacer's meteoric rise

Star India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has been in exceptional form of late as he’s leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s bowling attack and taking wickets in the powerplay. The 29-year-old rose to the top of the ICC ODI rankings earlier this year for a brief period and has made sure that the team doesn’t miss the services of the injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. 

Siraj’s rise has come at the right time for India as they will be hosting ODI World Cup 2023 in October and November and desperately need their pace attack to fire with the uncertainty on Bumrah’s availability for the marquee tournament. Commenting on Siraj’s meteoric rise, former India seamer RP Singh has said that the seamer has worked on his wrist position and follow through which is worked wonders for him.

“I have been following Siraj for a long time now. When he joined the Indian team, his graph was really high and then slowly it started falling. But it is good to see that he has worked on a lot of things this time, fitness being a major point. Now if you look at the technical bit, he has worked a lot on his wrist position and follow through for which he is getting the ball top bounce better and is also bowling stump-to-stump,” RP Singh was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Further showering praise on the Hyderabad-born seamer, RP said that he has the potential to be Bumrah’s replacement and if his graph keeps going up, he can be the next Mohammed Shami.

“Of course, he can be a replacement for Bumrah. In fact, I feel, if his graph continues to increase he can be the next Mohammed Shami,” he said.

Mohammed Siraj has picked 15 wickets in IPL 2023

In the ongoing IPL 2023, Siraj is the joint third-highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets to his name from nine matches at an average of 17.13 and an economy of 7.34. Out of his 15 wickets, eight have come in the powerplay and he’s also the only bowler to have an economy of under six during the first six overs among those who’ve bowled at least ten overs in that stage.

From having an economy of 10.23 during powerplay in IPL 2022 to conceding less than run-a-ball in the ongoing season, Siraj has made a remarkable turnaround. Indian fans would hope that the star seamer continues his sensational form in the upcoming World Test Championship final and ODI World Cup 2023.