India’s seamer Mohammed Siraj regained his position as the top men’s ODI bowler on Wednesday when the latest ICC men’s rankings were made public.
Siraj has once again regained the top spot in the ODI bowling rating, marking his second ascent to the peak. His maiden climb to number one followed a spectacular performance in the Asia Cup 2023 final, where he scored a fantastic 6-wicket haul against Sri Lanka.
Despite this early success, Siraj had a momentary setback, sliding from the top position to third during the World Cup 2023. Both Josh Hazlewood and Shaheen Afridi took turns as the number 1 bowlers, capitalizing on Siraj’s poor slump.
However, the Indian seamer found his form in recent encounters, clinching 4 wickets in the last 2 games while keeping an amazing economy rate. On the other side, Afridi and Hazlewood had a downturn in their performances, creating a possibility for Siraj to recover the number 1 ranking.
In an interview with the ICC, Mohammed Siraj highlighted that he doesn’t care about rankings. Instead, his primary motivation is to contribute to India’s success. His statement, perceived by fans as a covert retort to Shaheen Afridi’s self-focused words after becoming the top-ranked bowler, highlights Siraj’s team-oriented approach. On Wednesday, when the most recent ICC men’s rankings were announced, India’s seamer Mohammed Siraj won the top spot among Men’s ODI bowlers once again.
Siraj said: “To be honest, I was No. 1 for some time and since then I have also been up and down the rankings. So this number doesn’t really matter to me. The goal is to help India win the World Cup. I just hope that my performance helps the team achieve that goal.”
“I feel proud to be a part of this team where everyone is giving such a performance in the World Cup. I just hope that we continue to give performances in the upcoming important matches as a team and as a bowling unit. Very happy with this unit,” Siraj further added.
In 2023, Mohammed Siraj stands as the third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, holding the top position among pace bowlers with an impressive tally of 40 wickets in just 21 innings.
Also Read: Shaheen Afridi Becomes Fastest Pacer To Clinch 100 ODI Wickets
The formidable trio of Siraj, Shami, and Bumrah has proved to be a game-changer for India, contributing to a flawless record of 8 wins in as many games. The synergy among these bowlers is evident, as they’ve collectively dismantled their opponents, restricting them to scores below 150 in the last three matches. Siraj is reveling in his role within this dynamic side.
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