IND vs SA: Mohammed Siraj's Injury Put India On The Backfoot In Johannesburg-Dinesh Karthik

Veteran Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik said that Mohammed Siraj’s injury put India on the backfoot as they lost the game. He got injured on the very first day as he pulled up his hamstring and never really recovered from it. Siraj bowled less than 10 overs on the first day going for 24 runs at an economy of 2.40.

Speaking to Sportskeeda, Dinesh Karthik said that, Siraj was not the same bowler ever since pulling up his hamstring. He bowled 9.5 overs in the first innings and just six overs in the second going for 37 runs.

Mohammed Siraj’s Absence Hurt India’s Chances: Dinesh Karthik

“India, being the number one Test cricketing nation in the world, they would be little disappointed. They probably didn’t bowl at their best. And the main reason why India struggled through this test match was obviously the absence of Siraj.”

“The hamstring injury not only put him in the backfoot but it put India’s bowling unit on the backfoot. Because he has the ability to seam the ball well in and out. And that would’ve been a massive difference,” Karthik was quoted as saying on Sportskeeda.

Karthik also went on to praise Shardul Thakur who picked up 7/61 in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test to register his best figures in red-ball cricket. He also picked up the key wicket of Aiden Markram in the second innings. Along with Shardul, the wicketkeeper-batsman praised the experienced duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane as they scored crucial half-centuries in the second innings.

Shardul Thakur Was Biggest Plus For India: Dinesh Karthik

“Credit to Shardul Thakur. He looked outstanding. He created opportunities every time he came on to bowl. Shardul was the biggest plus for India to come out from this Test apart from Rahane and Pujara batting so well. They batted brilliantly in the second innings. Very important knock for them and it was good to see the approach they had in their strokeplay,” Karthik said.

With 122 needed on day 4 to win the Test match, Dean Elgar (96*), Rassie Van der Dussen (40) and Temba Bavuma (23*) came together to take the hosts to a win on a rain-curtained fourth day in Johannesburg. The series is level now at 1-1 with the final Test in Cape Town set to be the decider.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Dean Elgar Reveals How He Fired Up Kagiso Rabada To Perform Against India On Day 3 Of Second Test