India vs Australia: “Getting the Test cap is the biggest achievement of my life,” says Mohammed Siraj


India vs Australia: “Getting the Test cap is the biggest achievement of my life,” says Mohammed Siraj
Debutants Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj

India went into the dressing-room the happier of the two sides after a hard-fought day’s play against Australia on Day 1 of the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia were bundled out for 195 in the first innings after choosing to bat first with Jasprit Bumrah picking up four wickets and Ravichandran Ashwin picking up three. In reply, India reached 36/1 after losing Mayank Agarwal in the very first over.

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Among the four changes that India made to their line-up from the first Test, there were two debutants – Mohammed Siraj and Shubman Gill. Both impressed on the day with the former picking up two wickets including the crucial one of the well set Marnus Labuschagne. Gill on the other hand, stayed unbeaten on 28 to take India to 36/1 at stumps.

‘Ajinkya Rahane gave me confidence’ – Siraj

Speaking to BCCI after Day 1, Mohammed Siraj spoke about how he felt during and after his first day in international Test cricket. “I was feeling really good, getting the Indian Test camp is the biggest achievement of my life, the bowlers really did well, Ajinkya Rahane was giving me the confidence and Jasprit Bumrah was also around me at all times,” he said.

“I was eager to bowl my first over, I started warming up in the first session but I had to wait for my chance, I was really confident, after the lunch break I was just trying to bowl dot balls and create pressure. I was trying to bowl wide off the stumps, I set Cameron Green up and I set him up for the in-swinger,” he added.

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Speaking about bowling for the first time for India in Test matches, Siraj said, “When I got the cap, I felt it was the biggest achievement of my life. I gained a lot of confidence speaking with Ajju bhai and Jassi bhai. My hands were itching to bowl out there, and after lunch when Ajju bhai told me to bowl, I began warming up.

Then he said to me ‘you’ll only bowl for two overs’. Jadeja was to be brought on and rightly so because there was moisture on the wicket and it was helpful for the spinners. After lunch when I came in, it had turned into a batting wicket and my plan was to bowl as many dot balls as possible and build pressure.”

After the promising showing on Day 1, India will look to carry forward the momentum on Day 2 as well to bury the ghosts of the Adelaide Test with a series-levelling victory.

Also Read: India vs Australia: “Aimed at creating pressure from both ends” – Jasprit Bumrah speaks on India’s plans on Day 1

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