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Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has showered praises on Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj for his exceptional bowling performance in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2023. De Villiers specifically commended a crucial quality that he believes is ideal for a fast bowler.
Siraj’s sensational spell in Asia Cup final
During the continental cup final in Colombo, Siraj delivered a remarkable performance, especially with the new ball. The 29-year-old played a pivotal role in dismissing Sri Lanka for a mere 50 runs. Siraj’s phenomenal display resulted in a five-wicket haul, achieved in a mere 16 balls. His final bowling figures stood at an astonishing 6/21 in seven overs, earning him the well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award.
AB de Villiers acknowledges Mohammed Siraj’s fearless attitude
De Villiers, a revered figure in the Proteas cricket, lauded Indian pacer Siraj for his fearless attitude on the field. The Proteas legend commended Siraj’s unwavering commitment to challenging batters and his relentless approach to taking wickets.
“What stands out with him is attitude. We have spoken before on how attitude can really uplift you. If you never give up and if you keep trying and you make your attitude catchy with your teammates, the people want you there, the fans want you there. That’s where you start doing some brilliant and special things on the park,” De Villiers said on his Youtube channel.
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Siraj’s willingness to face batters head-on
According to De Villiers, Siraj doesn’t back down from confronting batters and consistently maintains a confrontational stance to dismiss opposition players. The 39-year-old believes that this fearlessness and willingness to engage with the opposition are key attributes that set Siraj apart as a formidable fast bowler in international cricket.
“He’s always in your face. The bowlers that I respected most are the guys that never gave up, that would always complete every single ball, be in your face. That’s what Mohammed Siraj does well. He’s not scared of trying his short ball. He’s there in the batter’s face and is always trying to get you out. The batters can feel that and Sri Lanka certainly felt that in the final,” the Pretoria-born cricketer concluded.
Siraj’s remarkable rise in ICC ODI bowlers rankings
Following his impressive performances, Siraj achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the No. 1 ranked bowler in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Rankings. This substantial climb saw him ascend from the ninth position to claim the top spot, solidifying his position as one of the world’s premier ODI bowlers.
Siraj’s upcoming challenges
As the Hyderabad-born cricketer prepares for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, it represents his final international appearance before the highly anticipated ODI World Cup 2023, scheduled to commence on October 5.
