Not Jasprit Bumrah, Irfan Pathan wants this Indian pacer to play the 'Mohammed Shami' role in 2027 ODI WC

Mohammed Siraj is expected make his return to ODIs in the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand that will commence from January 11. His last appearance in the format had come during the Men in Blue's tour of Australia in October last year and he had ended up missing the home assignment against South Africa entirely. Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the series with the 2026 T20 World Cup right around the corner, making Siraj the most experienced bowler in India's lineup.

Pathan wants Siraj to lead the bowling attack

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan feels that Siraj can be the one to lead the team's bowling attack in the 2027 ODI World Cup with Bumrah picking and choosing the matches he plays. He backed the Hyderabad pacer to play the role of 'Mohammed Shami' and rack up a massive number of scalps just like the latter did in the 2023 edition of the tournament.

"Mohammed Siraj is now a senior bowler, he comes into that category now. Sure, he is brilliant in Tests, but if he is a regular new-ball bowler in ODIs, then we can expect him to take on Mohammad Shami's role in the 2027 World Cup," Pathan said on his YouTube channel.

"We need atleast three good, quality, solid, fast bowlers in South Africa, and Bumrah picks and chooses games, and has not played a single ODI since 2023 ODI World Cup Final, so we need to keep other bowlers ready in case there is an injury," he added.

Pathan on India's bowling combination

He also believes that India will only be able to play two out of the four pacers they have chosen for the New Zealand ODI series. India have chosen the likes of Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna for the assignment. Pathan said that one of the seamers may have to make way for Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI and predicted India to win the series by a whitewash.

"One of the three frontline pacers might have to make way for Kuldeep Yadav, and I think it will be one of Harshit Rana or Arshdeep Singh, because India already have batting till No.8. India are solid favorites in this series, so I hope that they don't win 2-1, but instead get a 3-0 result," Pathan stated.

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India's squad for New Zealand ODIs: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.