The Indian fast bowler, Mohammed Siraj, made his test debut against Australia during the second Test match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Siraj was included in the Indian squad in place of Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out of the last three Tests due to a fractured arm.
Mohammed Siraj played an instrumental role on Day 1 of the Indian cricket team after India bowled the Australian out for 195 runs in their first innings.
Siraj repaid the trust shown by the team management and skipper Ajinkya Rahane and didn’t take long to make a mark. It was in his eighth over of the game, when he dismissed the dangerous Marnus Labuschagne to put team India on top. Later on, during the 62nd over of Australia’s innings when the India debutant dismissed Green with a perfect plan and left everyone in awe.
Later after the match, Siraj had a candid conversation with R Sridhar, the fielding coach of team India. Sridhar was all praises for Siraj, he said:
“Maza aagya aapko ground me dekh kr, ekdam maut daal diye miya,” Sridhar was quoted as saying during the post-presentation chats, Mohammed Siraj responded by saying: “Maut daal diye bhai,”
The video of the same was shared by the BCCI via their official Twitter handle. Here, watch the video:
WATCH : R Sridhar interviews debutant Siraj with a Hyderabadi twist
You do not want to miss this fun chat between @coach_rsridhar & #TeamIndia‘s newest Test debutant, Siraj from the MCG – by @Moulinparikh
??https://t.co/2vTdSgKPSi #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/08xSpKDs7Q
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 26, 2020
Siraj further explained how donning the whites for team India is the ‘biggest achievement’ of his life and how he cherished every moment on the field. He also expressed gratitude towards the stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane and also Jasprit Bumrah for having his back. Siraj said:
“I was feeling really good. Getting the India Test cap is my life’s biggest achievement. I did not get bowling till lunch. Bowlers did really well after the drinks. I liked talking with Azzu bhai (Ajinkya Rahane) because he was giving me confidence and Jasprit Bumrah was also standing beside me. He also gave me confidence,”