Mohammed Siraj is as good as anyone in the world at the moment: Aaron Finch

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has told who as per him will be the key bowlers at the ODI World Cup 2023 as the countdown to the mega event has officially commenced. Finch rated Indian pacer Mohammes Siraj highly, keeping him in the same bracket as some world-class and format veterans like Trent Boult, Mitchell Starc and Kagiso Rabada.

Finch also spoke on whether Ashwin will make it into the India's final 15 for the World Cup, stating his selection will depend upon the kind of surfaces the World Cup will be played on. Finch, however, reckoned that even though he does not see Ashwin making the cut in India’s 15, those playing alongside him in the ongoing home ODI series against Australia must try and pick his brains given the plethora of experience he holds.

"Well, the reason I retired - Bhuvi. He’s the one that I always tried to avoid, but neither of us are playing now, so that's I think new ball bowlers who can swing, are a danger to everyone. I think Trent Bolt, Mitchell Starc, and Rabada, these guys, especially Siraj, he’s as good as anyone in the world at the moment,” Finch said while speaking exclusively to Star Sports, StarCast expert for Mission World Cup.

"I think that [Ashwin’s selection] depends on how they think the surfaces are going to play throughout the country, and by that time, I think the skill in picking a squad for the World Cup is you have to think of the back end. But you can’t think too much about it because you have to get there,” Finch said.

“I think he might struggle to make it to the final 15, but as somebody who has played so much cricket, I think the rest of the group that is with the Indian team for this current series against Australia, they could learn so much about big game play. Because Ashwin is somebody that stands up in big games, whether it’s a Test match or a T20 game, he has done it all throughout his career. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s there at the moment as a mentor around the group, but I don’t see him making that last 15, unfortunately,” he added.

Former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis also revealed his choice of bowlers who will hold the key for their sides in the World Cup. He stood in agreement with Finch's picks, adding spinner Kuldeep Yadav to his choices given his ability to turn the ball both ways.

“Yeah, I'm similar to Finch. I think it depends on the wickets. You know, if the wicket has got something in it, someone like Siraj who just nibbles the ball a little bit both ways, and he's trying the off stump the whole time. Boult, those kinds of guys are going to be extremely successful. Rabada, all those guys, but if there is a little bit of spin, you know, someone like Kuldeep has bowled really well in the last six months. When he gets his tail up and he gets one wicket, you know, the next batter's coming in, he's quite tricky to face his first few balls because he spins the ball both ways,” said du Plessis.