Mohammed Siraj should lead pace attack in England with Jasprit Bumrah: ex-India bowling coach Bharat Arun

Former India bowling coach Bharat Arun feels that it's time for Mohammed Siraj to take the responsibility of being the spearhead of the bowling attack, starting with the Test series against England.

Siraj honed his skills in his initial years in the Indian team under the watchful eyes of Arun, back when Virat Kohli was the captain of the Indian team and Ravi Shastri served as the head coach. Arun has seen Siraj developing his game from close quarters and is a good person to explain exactly what the 31-year-old pacer is capable of.

Jasprit Bumrah, who had sustained a back injury during the Border-Gavaskar series earlier this year, will not be available to play all five Tests as the Indian team management is set to manage his workload diligently. If Siraj can step up in Bumrah's absence, it will bode well for the Shubman Gill-led side.

Arun said that the forthcoming England tour gives Siraj a great opportunity to grow in stature, as he recalled how the Hyderabad pacer stood out during India's famous victory at Lord's in 2021, where he bagged four wickets in each innings.

“It’s a great opportunity for Siraj. He’s got enough experience under his belt. I have seen him bowl some exceptional spells, like the one he bowled in the Lord’s Test, which we won last time. It’s time for Siraj to put his hand up and say, ‘I’m going to be the frontline bowler of our country’. He’s got the skill set. It’s now what kind of mindset he has that is going to be vital," Arun told TOI.

"He’s pretty smart. Siraj is someone who can be a captain’s delight who will give his all. It’s good to be aggressive, but controlling it is going to be key. He’s had a good IPL. He looked in good rhythm,” he added.

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Siraj has represented the Men in Blue in 36 Tests, 44 ODIs, and 16 T20Is, picking up 100, 71, and 14 wickets, respectively.