RP Singh, a retired Indian pace bowler, believes that Mohammed Siraj has the potential to step in for Jasprit Bumrah, who has a history of injuries, in the national team. Singh complimented the Hyderabad-born fast bowler, stating that with continued development, Siraj could become the next Mohammed Shami.
In recent months, Siraj has arguably been India’s most outstanding fast bowler in all formats. In the absence of Bumrah, he has elevated his game and delivered some exceptional performances.
Currently, the right-arm paceman is playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). He seems to be in excellent form, having taken 15 wickets in nine matches at an average of 17.20 and an economy rate of 7.37.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Singh expressed a strong opinion about Siraj. He said,
Singh confidently stated that Siraj could certainly serve as a substitute for Bumrah, and even has the potential to become the next Mohammed Shami if his progress continues. Singh observed that the fast bowler has made significant strides in recent months, attributing this progress to improvements in his fitness and technical adjustments to his bowling.
Singh, a former left-arm pacer, has been monitoring Siraj’s progress for some time now. He acknowledged that Siraj’s performance had previously plateaued after a promising start, but was pleased to see that the fast bowler had addressed some key areas this time around. Singh elaborated, saying, “If you look at his technique, he has focused on his wrist position and follow-through, resulting in better bounce and a more consistent line of attack.”
To date, Siraj has played 18 Test matches, 24 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and eight Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) for India, taking 43, 47, and 11 wickets in each format, respectively.
