Former India captain Mohammed Azharuddin has given India pacer Mohammed Siraj some food for thought, on a lighter note.
At a function to launch 1983 World Cup-winning wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani’s book, Stumped, here, Azharuddin told mid-day that the secret behind the Hyderabad pacer’s success (Siraj was the leading wicket-taker in the recent five-Test series in England with 23 scalps) his love for regional delicacies, nalli gosht biryani and paya. Nalli gosht biryani is a biryani made with lamb shanks and aromatic spices, while paya is lamb feet.
High power and energy
“Siraj was outstanding. Thanks to nalli gosht biryani and paya [which are his favourite food] he has developed a strong body, particularly his legs. He showed a lot of enthusiasm and energy. Throughout the series he had the hunger to excel and deliver for India. His last delivery [where he clean bowled England’s Gus Atkinson with a yorker to help India win the fifth Test at the Oval by six runs and level the series 2-2] which was bowled at 143 kmph is a great tribute to Siraj’s fitness and strength that has made him a super star. That spell at the Oval was incredible. He took on the responsibility admirably in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. He came hard at the England batters and bowled with a lot of intensity. He is clearly the new super star of Indian sport,” Azharuddin, 62, told mid-day on Sunday.
England’s Gus Atkinson is clean bowled by pacer Mohammed Siraj during India’s victory in the fifth Test at the Oval last week. Pic/Getty Images
Siraj’s love for biryani is well known however, given his fitness needs, he rarely indulges in it currently. And it’s this fitness that Azharuddin wants him to focus on. “Going forward, Siraj needs to remain humble and keep working on his fitness,” added Azhar, who played 99 Tests for India, scoring 6215 runs, including 22 centuries, at an average of 45.03. Siraj, the only Indian pacer to play all five Tests, bowled 185.3 overs — the most by any pacer in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
The stylish batsman also gave his thumbs up to the Indian batting squad, led by skipper Shubman Gill. “At the start of the tour, many were apprehensive of new captain Gill but in the end this young team came out with flying colours. The batters did a very good job, particularly Shubman, KL Rahul and [Ravindra] Jadeja. Gill has started his tenure as captain on a high note.”
Finally, Azhar weighed in on the Bumrah workload management debate. Bumrah played just three out of the five Tests, missing out on the thrilling final win at the Oval, as per a process backed by the BCCI to manage his workload.
The Bumrah debate
However, Azhar felt that every player has to be available whenever the country needs him: “If there is an injury issue, then the Board and the player has to decide. However, I feel once you are in the team, you can’t pick and choose your matches. There is workload, but at this level, you have to manage it. You are playing for the country. It was a different story that Siraj along with Prasidh [Krishna] and Akash Deep rose to the occasion and we were fortunate that we could win without Bumrah, but what happens if India needs Bumrah badly in a particular situation?”
