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Ashwin praises Siraj for his transformation and crucial role in India’s thrilling win against England.
Mohammed Siraj celebrates taking the wicket of England’s Gus Atkinson (Picture credit: AFP)
Ace India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that one should celebrate Mohammed Siraj on the day and his transformation from believing in ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah to believing in himself and taking India to a series-levelling, thrilling win against England is commendable.
Siraj took a match haul of 9/190 to help India bowl the hosts out twice in the game and clinch a thrilling six-run win over England on Monday.
Set a record target of 374, England looked poised for a win against India at 339/6 at stumps on the penultimate day. However, India produced a spirited comeback on the final morning, picking up the remaining four wickets to bowl the hosts out for 367 and level the five-match series 2-2.
“What an absolute riveting Test. Full props to India, against all odds, India have come back and levelled the series. I want to say that this game has been topsy-turvy, series has also been topsy-turvy. All things aside, for today, let us celebrate Mohammed Siraj,” Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“With 22 (23) wickets, he’s the leader of the bowling charts. What made me so happy with what happened with Siraj is that when we won the T20 World Cup, he wore a bib and praised Jasprit Bumrah,” Ashwin said.
“But today it wasn’t Jassi bhai, but Miyan bhai, who was the real instrument for India to level the series,” Ashwin added.
The former Indian cricketer further emphasised the importance of Siraj to the Indian bowling attack. Ashwin said that the pacer was getting older and needed to be given breaks in between to lead a transitioning attack in the coming years.
“He’s reminding us of what a champion bowler he is, his bowling action and his running technique in his run-up and his nice finish towards the end, his good work ethic is allowing him to play all the Tests of a series, even if it is five Tests. It is time we recognised that,” Ashwin said.
“He’s getting on in age and it is very important as an Indian team management that we rest him as well from inconsequential matches that we play after this, because he could be your number one Test bowler, go-to Test bowler around which you build the rest of your bowling attack,” Ashwin added.
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