Sanjay Bangar, the former India batting coach, has made an interesting comparison between India’s current pace attack and the famous batting duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. He compared Jasprit Bumrah to Tendulkar and Mohammed Siraj to Dravid.
This came after Siraj’s 4 for 86 at The Oval. He and Prasidh Krishna bowled out England for 247 on Day 2. Bangar pointed out that Siraj’s contributions are often overlooked because of Bumrah’s brilliance, just like Dravid’s were when he played with Tendulkar.
Bangar shared this with ESPNcricinfo and felt sorry for Siraj’s hard work as he bowled 155.2 overs in the series and is India’s most reliable player.
Bangar said when Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid played together, Sachin got most of the attention and Rahul Dravid did his job quietly. He feels the same is the case when Siraj and Bumrah play together.
Bangar also spoke about Mohammed Siraj’s heavy workload, especially since Bumrah missed two Tests in the series.
He said Siraj always puts in a great effort and the effort he puts in shows the kind of preparation he does in his fitness routines. He even played all the Tests in the Australia series.
Bangar also mentioned a key difference in Bumrah and Siraj’s bowling styles which affects their workload and risk of injury.
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Bangar said Siraj may not have the same workload issues because his bowling action is more traditional and depends on the momentum he generates in his run-up which is less taxing on his body. Bumrah’s bowling technique is very different.
This is why Siraj played all five Tests in the series and Bumrah only three. With India 75/2 in their second innings, trailing by 148, Siraj’s ability to perform when needed could be crucial in this final match of the series.
Just as Dravid’s determination complemented Sachin Tendulkar’s talent, Siraj’s consistency balances Bumrah’s explosiveness. As India look to tie the series at The Oval, this Dravid of pace might finally get the recognition he deserves.
