Watch: Mohammed Siraj-Rishabh Pant in a standoff as Rohit Sharma intervenes after India lose a wicket on DRS
Published - 20 Sep 2024, 12:16 PM | Updated - 20 Sep 2024, 12:29 PM
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Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj delivered a sharp ball to Bangladesh opener Zakir Hasan, prompting a quick discussion between wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant and captain Rohit Sharma on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
In a tense moment on the field, Pant expressed his view that the delivery, while troubling, wouldn’t quite catch Zakir’s leg stump.
As Pant told Rohit “height nahi hain, nikal jayege leg-side (it's not high but will miss leg-stump)," the Indian cricket team opted against reviewing the decision, leaving the bowler Siraj frustrated at the captain.
Mohammed Siraj left disappointed as Zakir Hasan escapes dismissal in nail-biting moment
The fiery pacer was convinced that the ball had pitched in line and that it might have snared Zakir with a flick on the fifth ball of the fourth over during Bangladesh’s first innings in Chennai.
As Zakir lost his balance while attempting to play the shot, the debate intensified in the Indian camp, highlighting tension among Siraj, Rohit and Pant.
This led to a call for HawkEye to provide clarity, and it revealed a clear three-red line, hinting at a potential dismissal of the Bangladesh opener.
Unfortunately, Siraj was left in disbelief, while the captain Rohit and wicketkeeper Pant were seen smiling, realizing how narrowly they had missed a key wicket.
Watch the tense moment here:
— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) September 20, 2024
— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) September 20, 2024
— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) September 20, 2024
Despite the close call, the on-field umpire, Rod Tucker, remained firm in his decision, leaving India to slip away the opportunity. Recently, Virat Kohli hailed Siraj for his hunger to play Test cricket and called him one of the best bowlers India have.
Siraj is hungry to do well in Test cricket: Virat Kohli
Kohli said in a video posted by the BCCI on X: “Mohammed Siraj wants to play Test cricket, and he is hungry to do well in Test cricket, and he wants to win away from home.”
However, Zakir could not pose any threat to Team India, as Akash Deep rattled his stumps for just three runs off 22 balls in the ninth over of Bangladesh’s innings on Day 2. Akash cleaned Zakir bowled with a brilliant delivery, sending the middle stump crashing to the ground.
Akash Deep sends Zakir and Mominul Haque back to the pavelion
This ball angled in from well over the crease as Zakir, in trying to drive forward, left just an opening, and he was ready to capitalize on the moment, the ball slipping through for a crucial wicket for India. Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir couldn't help but smile after the wicket.
Akash struck again, and this time, his victim was Mominul Haque, who was cleaned bowled by the Indian pacer for a golden duck to hand Bangladesh the third setback in the ongoing first Test in Chennai.
He bowled an excellent delivery, and it gasped back, taking Mominul by surprise and trying to defend. It clipped the Bangladesh batter’s pad and crashed into the off-stump. A jubilant Akash pumped his punches in the air, as the Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel could not help but smile.
Mominul was very late to react to the Indian pacer’s delivery, as even if the ball did not hit the stumps, he would have been given out LBW.
