It was an important series win for Team India as they squeezed past New Zealand by a 1-0 margin in a rain-curtailed fray with the final T20I finishing on a bizarre result where both sides were caught at par when the rain gods chose to intervene. However, despite the outcome, there were a lot of positives that Team India would be taking away from this important series.

It needed something special from the Indians to thwart the hosts in their tracks. As Glenn Phillips continued with his battery alongside Devon Conway, it was Mohammed Siraj who rattled the all-important partnership and then chimed in with two further wickets constituting the Kiwis’ downfall.

He claimed 4 wickets in the final T20I, and was deservedly awarded the Player of the Match award as he led India to a fine bowling display from a very precarious situation. In the post-match conference, he talked about the entire transition from the T20 World Cup to New Zealand, highlighting the change of emotions that he went through.

Talking about his strategy against the Kiwis, Siraj said, “I was on standbys for the T20 World Cup. I was preparing to bowl hard lengths in New Zealand conditions. If someone hits me from that length, then good shot. But my aim was to go for the hard lengths. 160-165 is a good total with the short boundaries."

Siraj has also been one of the best weapons for Team India in the ODIs in 2022 and the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand will be a litmus test for the fast bowler as he will be hopeful of finishing the calendar year on a high.