NEW DELHI: Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj exuded confidence ahead of the two-match Test series against defending World Test Championship (WTC) winners South Africa, terming it a “crucial” contest in the ongoing cycle starting Friday.
India, placed third in the current WTC points table, had earlier drawn their away series in England before clinching a convincing win over the West Indies at home. Meanwhile, South Africa began their title defence with a 1-1 draw in Pakistan.
Confident of Momentum from Previous Performances
“This series is crucial for the new WTC cycle, especially since South Africa is the defending champion. While they drew 1-1 with Pakistan, we're confident from our own good form — we created a positive environment, performed well in England, and won against the West Indies,” Siraj said on JioStar.
The Hyderabad speedster was India’s standout bowler in the five-Test series against England, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps, before bagging 10 wickets across two matches against the West Indies.
“Personally, I'm bowling with good rhythm and looking to make the most of it. Facing strong teams helps identify areas to improve, and I'm really excited for this challenge,” he added.
In the previous WTC cycle, India fell short of expectations, missing out on a place in the 2025 final. Their campaign unravelled after a 3-0 home series defeat to New Zealand, followed by another setback in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. This time, Team India will be determined to correct their mistakes and go all the way to lift the coveted title.
(With PTI Inputs)
