Former Australian batter and former India coach Greg Chappell said that Mohammed Siraj is ready to lead the Indian bowling attack.
“To be fair, he has turned in many fine performances before, at the MCG, the Gabba, Perth, Lord’s, Cape Town and Birmingham, but what he did at The Oval was his true coming of age. With or without Bumrah, he is ready to be the spiritual as well as actual leader of Gill’s attack,” Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.
Indian batters scored 12 hundreds in the five-Test series, which is their highest in any series, but for Chappell, Siraj’s efforts are incomparable.
“I don’t think it is unfair to say that, despite the many wonderful batting efforts, Siraj was the main reason that India was competitive in the series,” he further wrote.
Chappell also praised Siraj for the workload he carried throughout the series, playing all the matches. “To bowl more than 185 overs in five Test matches over six weeks in any condition is a physical, mental and emotional marathon. To do so with consistent intensity, while carrying the attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah for stretches, is bordering on heroic.”
He also believes that Washington Sundar will develop into a prolific all-rounder for India in the future and is expected to serve the team for a long time.
“I will be surprised if Washington Sundar doesn’t establish himself as the team’s premier allrounder, who I expect to play in excess of 50 Tests,” Chappell further added.
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