Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has emphasized the need for Mohammed Siraj to step up and take more responsibility within the Indian pace attack. With Jasprit Bumrah's workload management a key concern, Mhambrey believes Siraj, being the most experienced pacer after Bumrah, must consistently deliver and lead the bowling unit. He also voiced his preference for Prasidh Krishna over Arshdeep Singh, citing Krishna's ability to generate bounce and extract movement from older balls, which could prove crucial in Australian conditions.
Mhambrey's comments come amidst discussions about India's fast bowling options for the upcoming series, particularly the five-Test tour of Australia. The selectors are focused on identifying a pool of pacers, keeping in mind the need to manage the workload of key players like Bumrah and potentially Mohammed Shami, who is recovering from an injury.
Siraj's form has been a subject of discussion. While he had a stellar debut series in Australia in 2020-21 and a good showing in England a few months later, his performance has been inconsistent. After a promising start to the Australia tour in late 2024, his form dipped as the series progressed. However, Mhambrey noted Siraj's impressive form in the recent IPL season, highlighting his ability to extract sharp movement with the new ball. He believes that Siraj's experience of touring England will be beneficial. Mhambrey stated, "Everyone I know has a lot of expectations from Bumrah but you need someone else to shoulder that responsibility as well. That has to be Siraj. He is the senior (most) after Bumrah, he has played a lot of cricket. Not only him, you need others to shoulder the responsibility as well".
Regarding the third seamer's spot, Mhambrey has thrown his weight behind Prasidh Krishna. Despite Krishna's injury concerns, Mhambrey believes his unique attributes make him a valuable asset, especially in Australia. He explained that Krishna's height and ability to generate bounce could be effective on Australian pitches, particularly when the Kookaburra ball gets older and the conditions become flat. Mhambrey wants to see how Prasidh Krishna shapes up, emphasizing that his ability to generate bounce and move the ball, especially after the ball is more than 30-35 overs old, could be a game-changer on Australian pitches. He added that "Having that bounce is going to be important, and that is why I want to see how someone like Prasidh shapes up... Because later on after the 30-35 overs, it does get flat and you need to have someone to have something different and the bounce is something you can use".
While Arshdeep Singh is a promising left-arm option, Mhambrey feels he may need more time to develop his red-ball skills. He seems to favor Yash Dayal at the moment as Dayal "looks as someone who could hit the deck." Mhambrey's preference for Krishna highlights the importance of having bowlers who can exploit the unique conditions in Australia.
Mhambrey also acknowledged the significance of workload management, especially with a packed schedule ahead. He stressed the need to create a strong bench strength by providing opportunities to other bowlers like Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, and Arshdeep Singh. He said, “The moment we give a break to a bowler we can bring another one which will create bench strength.”
Ultimately, Mhambrey's statements underscore the importance of Siraj embracing a leadership role in the pace attack and the potential of Prasidh Krishna to add a different dimension to India's bowling arsenal in Australia. As the selectors deliberate on the final squad, these insights will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping their decisions.
