Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif believes Mohammed Siraj was the biggest positive for India in the series against Sri Lanka. Siraj returned with impressive figures of 4-32 in the third ODI of the series and helped India in skittling out the opposition at 73.

Siraj took a total of nine wickets in the three matches of the series and finished as the leading wicket-taker. The right-arm fast bowler got the ball to swing both ways against the opposition in the PowerPlay overs as he bowled in the right areas to reap his rewards.

Siraj has taken giant strides at the top level as he has kept on improving his game. The right-arm pacer has grown in confidence and he will look to continue the good show.

Mohammed Kaif said on Star Sports, “The biggest positive has been Mohammed Siraj. Wanting to win the World Cup in India in flat conditions, I think Mohammed Siraj has done so well.”

“If you see the last couple of matches, he’s been bowling really well, getting the breakthrough with the new ball. He has got wickets even when he comes in to bowl towards the end,” said Kaif.

Meanwhile, Kaif feels Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and speedster Umran Malik can provide the wickets in the middle overs for the team. However, Kaif rued the fact that India could not take a wicket in the last few overs against Sri Lanka in the first game at Guwahati.

“They have Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav who can take wickets in the middle overs. They have Umran Malik who can get wickets in the middle overs. But in the first ODI we saw that in the last 13 overs, there was no wicket taken by the Indian bowlers.”

“Shanaka scored 100 in that game, although Sri Lanka had lost the game but I think we need to improve on our death bowling. That’s where we are missing Bumrah very much because he is a genuine match winner, a wicket-taker,” said Kaif.

India will take on New Zealand in the three-match ODI series, starting on Wednesday.