Mohammad Kaif commended Mohammed Siraj for stepping up in the first ODI match against New Zealand when India was under pressure. The Men in Blue set a goal of 350 runs for the Black Caps on January 18 in Hyderabad. The hosts then removed Tom Latham and company for 337 to win by a narrow 12-run margin as Siraj finished with a 4/46 in his 10 overs.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Kaif commended Mohammed Siraj for answering Rohit Sharma's phone when India was in difficulty, going on to say: "He had extraordinary guts because he came in to bowl under intense pressure at a key moment when he took two wickets in one over. Rohit Sharma tried to find a bowler to put his hand up in the final few overs since Bumrah wasn't available, but he was unsuccessful."

Siraj only gave up four runs in the Kiwi batting team's 42nd over. He brilliantly recovered after giving up 11 runs in the 44th over by capturing two wickets in the final over to swing the game in India's favour. "You may be in terrific shape, but when you run with the ball, you're not sure whether to bowl yorkers or slower balls," Kaif said, commending Siraj for overcoming any uncertainties he may have had at the top of his ascension.

He bowled a bouncer and trapped Santner there. With bouncers, he took three important wickets." Kaif concluded by thanking Siraj for demonstrating his capacity to quickly change the outcome of a game, saying: "He removed Conway with a bouncer, followed by Latham and Santner, who were already set. The next over saw two wickets fall.

It exemplifies Mohammed Siraj's ability to change the course of a game with just one over. Tom Latham and Devon Conway were both caught by Siraj's short deep-off deliveries. He castrated Henry Shipley with his next legal delivery after dismissing Santner with another short ball.