Mohammed Siraj said, "One bad match doesn't make me a bad bowler," following India's decisive victory over Pakistan
IND vs. PAK: Mohammed Siraj had a lacklustre performance in India's second game against Afghanistan, but on Saturday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, he made amends by claiming significant wickets against Pakistan.
Siraj's 2/50 figures came from dismissing Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique, which led to Pakistan's batting collapse.
Pakistan lost eight wickets in 36 runs and were bowled out in just 191 runs in 42.5 overs, so it turned out to be a turning point.
"The graph always goes down, so it can't always be the same when we go to the office and you get a day off too. Thus, I tell myself that one game does not make me a bad bowler," Siraj stated at the press conference following the game.
"I always maintain a strong sense of confidence in my ability to bowl and believe that I should be the best bowler. I can't be a bad bowler even if I lose a match because of my confidence. I've committed to doing that. I received the outcome today."
The Men in Blue's batting prowess, led by captain Rohit Sharma's vital 86-run innings, and the half-century from Shreyas Iyer allowed them to chase down the target in 30.3 overs with seven wickets remaining.
Siraj, who couldn't afford bowling spikes due to his father's autorickshaw driving livelihood, talked about his thoughts about representing India in the World Cup.
"To be honest, sir, I never imagined that I would play in the World Cup, especially considering my background. However, since I'm playing now, it counts as a victory for me.
Furthermore, it is well known that Pakistan and India play intense, high-pressure sports. However, I was pleased to see that today."
On Saturday, there wasn't much support visible for the bowlers on Ahmedabad's flat track. Having gone for runs early in the innings, Siraj was forced to experiment and was rewarded with crucial wickets.
"I began in the third over. Since there might have been a chance for the opposite to occur in the end. Because it was coming easily off the bat when I was holding it seam-up. The batter wasn't having any trouble. It was easy to get the ball."
"I therefore reasoned that I should try cross seaming this wicket because it can stay low and occasionally provide extra bounce. It's beneficial for you if you can get bounce and secure a wicket."