Sunil Gavaskar Flattered By Mohammed Siraj's Debut

Indian right-arm paceman Mohammed Siraj has left his countryman and former opening batsman Sunil Gavaskar impressed. India bounced back from their chastening eight-wicket loss in Adelaide against Australia to record a victory with a similar margin on the fourth day of the second Test in Melbourne. Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praises on Mohammed Siraj, who was one of the debutants, for how he bowled.

Mohammed Siraj replaced Mohammed Shami for the second Test against Australia since the latter suffered an injury to his forearm. The 26-year old claimed five wickets in the match as India restricted the opposition to paltry totals in both the innings. In the first innings, Siraj removed Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head as he supported Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin to skittle the hosts for 195.

In the second innings, Siraj was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he took three wickets that kept Australia’s lead to only 70. The Hyderabad seamer went on to dismiss Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Nathan Lyon. Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane went on to chase the target of 70 in a little more than 15 overs to level the four-match series.

The fact that he was consistently at the batsmen was good to see: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar said that he has been impressed with Mohammed Siraj for not letting the batsmen off the leash, testing them with all kinds of deliveries. The 71-year old observed that despite conceding a boundary and one of the appeals not going his way, Siraj showed heart and resolve, continuing to hit the good areas and trouble the batsmen.

“Very impressive. He was at the batsmen all the time. He hardly gave them any room outside the off stump. He was testing them with all kinds of deliveries. He used the bouncer and he was always at it. There was a shot that was played where he was hit for a boundary or when there was an appeal that didn’t go his way, he didn’t lose heart. He showed a big heart. The fact that he was consistently at the batsmen was good to see,” Gavaskar said as quoted by India Today

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