Trent Boult, the New Zealand fast bowler, has lost his top rank in the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings for bowlers to Mohammed Siraj, the Indian speedster. Siraj has capped off a stellar past 12 months with this achievement, and it is an impressive ascent for the 28-year-old Indian player.
Siraj only joined India’s ODI team in February 2020, after a three-year absence during which he failed to participate in a 50-over international match. Since then, Siraj has played in 20 games and taken 37 wickets, making him one of India’s most reliable fast bowlers. As a result, Siraj has begun to accrue awards and recognition for his performances.
On Tuesday, Siraj was selected for the ICC Men’s ODI Team of the Year, and on Wednesday, he surpassed Boult and Australia seamer Josh Hazlewood to become the top-ranked ODI bowler for the first time. Siraj’s performance in the ODI series at home earlier this month against Sri Lanka and New Zealand demonstrated just how much the right-arm has advanced in recent years in addition to his domineering form over the previous 12 months.
In the middle of last year, India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey pushed Siraj to improve specific facets of his game, and recent performances show that the additional work the vivacious fast put in has paid off handsomely. Siraj led the team in wickets taken during the three-game series against Sri Lanka with nine, and he followed that up with a four-wicket haul in the first game of the recently concluded series against New Zealand.
With just two rating points separating him from Hazlewood at the top of the list, Siraj ascends to the top spot among ODI bowlers with 729 rating points. This is a significant achievement for Siraj and it is a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. His rise to the top of the ODI bowlers’ ranking is not only a personal milestone, but also a huge boost for the Indian cricket team. The team management will be hoping that Siraj can maintain this level of performance in the future and help India to achieve success in the upcoming matches.
