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Mohammed Siraj has revealed asking Jasprit Bumrah to stay back despite being released from the squad, telling him that he’d want to hug the senior pacer after picking a fifer.
Mohammed Siraj reveals emotional goodbye to Jasprit Bumrah. (PC: PTI, BCCI)
Mohammed Siraj has dropped another proof of his eternal love and admiration for senior pace bowling partner Jasprit Bumrah. Siraj revealed that when Bumrah was leaving the squad in the lead-up to the game, the Hyderabadi asked him to stop, saying who he would hug after a five-wicket haul if not his Jassi bhai.
Bumrah, having been rested from the final Test of the series, was released from the squad on July 31. Siraj didn’t take a fifer in the first innings but picked up a brilliant four-wicket haul, helping India bowl England out for 247 and keep their first lead to a gettable 23 runs.
“Jassi bhai ko ye bola tha, bhaiya aap ja kyu rahe ho? Mai 5 wicket leke aake kisko hug karu? Toh unhone bola mai hu idhar hi, tu bas 5 wicket lele. (I asked Jassi, brother, why are you going? Who’ll I come to hug when I take a five-wicket haul? He just said, ‘I am here, you go and take five wickets’)” Siraj revealed in a video on the BCCI.tv after the day’s play.
In the same video, Prasidh Krishna, who also took four wickets in the innings to step up in Bumrah’s absence, spoke about the fast-bowling group.
“Booms has been a great, great part of this. I think it’s really important for us to enjoy each other. When you are on the field, you are speaking to each other and have that trust. That trust is only going to make the team better,” Prasidh said.
The BCCI’s medical team had decided that it was only safe for Bumrah to play three Tests in the series to maintain his long-term fitness. He featured in the first, third, and fourth games.
‘I and Siraj, we have been playing a lot for five years now. I played with him a lot in the IPL as well. We sit together a lot, spend a lot of time together. Same with Akash Deep. I think the fast-bowling unit is looking pretty good,” Prasidh added.
The visitors scored 75/2 in reply, taking a 52-run lead to Stumps. Any target of over 250 would be their aim, though it won’t be easy on the quick green pitch at the Oval.
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