T20 World Cup 2021: Predicting 5 surprising inclusions in India's squad

4. Mohammed Siraj

A year ago if Siraj would have been anywhere near the India team’s squad for the T20 World Cup, a lot of people would have assumed he is in the reserves. But, that has changed now for sure. Siraj is a much better bowler and his upward rise has been tremendous to watch, as India had longed for an out and out fast-bowler and he is just that. 

Siraj’s international numbers in T20 cricket are nothing more than disastrous but he played all those matches wearing the cape of the ‘old Siraj.’ The thing about the old Siraj was that, despite being every bit exciting, he was expensive with the ball. However, it was in the IPL 2020, where his economy dropped to his career-best, 8.68, which might still be expensive but way less than what he had in the preceding season.

After his Test debut though, Siraj has been in a different mode. His economy during the first leg of IPL 2021 was 7.34, with him nailing more yorkers than ever and also bowling tight lines whenever required. Add to this, his strike rate of 14.8 in the IPL 2020 in the UAE, and one might find a nice recipe of throwing in someone who could move the bowl both ways early in the innings and take advantage of the new ball. And in case of fans forgot, he has pace too.