They were just a few sentences from Ravichandran Ashwin, but they were enough to describe Mohammed Siraj’s journey. Ashwin acknowledged that Siraj went through the ‘difficulties’ of domestic cricket and India A and ‘won’ his right to play for India while delivering the Test cap to the MCG Hyderabad player on Saturday.
“Coming from the first class grind and India A grind, you have won this test cap. You will be meeting with the team throughout this Test match, ”Ashwin told Siraj before the young man took his cap and wore it before the second Test against Australia started, even as the rest of the Indian players applauded and applauded. .
Siraj entered Indian XI in place of injured Mohammed Shami, who fractured his wrist after being hit by security guard Pat Cummins in the second round of the Adelaide Test.
Live score of the 2nd India x Australia test
It was not a bed of roses for Siraj. He had to put consistent performances for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy and also for India A to win his test call.
BCCI also highlighted how Siraj fought a personal tragedy – he lost his father in the early stages of the Australia tour – and decided to continue with the team.
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He fought against personal tragedy, fought against adversity and is now rewarded with the Indian Test. 298. Congratulations Mohammed Siraj. Go and enjoy the day! ”Tweeted BCCI.
Siraj was not the only one who debuted in the second Test against Australia on Saturday. Punjab’s Shubman Gill was another. The talented right-handed man came to the side in place of an out-of-shape Prithvi Shaw.
He received his Test cap by coach Ravi Shastri.
“The moment when your dreams come true. No better stage than the Boxing Day Test to make your first appearance on the Test. Shubman Gill is now the proud holder of India’s No. 297 test cap, ”tweeted BCCI.
The last time India played with several rookies was in 2013 against the West Indies in Calcutta, with Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami being the rookies.
The last time India played with several rookies against Australia was in 2004 in Mumbai, with Dinesh Karthik and Gautam Gambhir being the rookies.
This is only India’s fourth instance playing with several newcomers in a test match in Australia. The last time was in 1967 in Adelaide, with Umesh Kulkarni and Syed Abid Ali being the debutants.
Since 1993, this is the first instance of any team with several newcomers to the MCG. South Africa was the last team to do so, with Gary Kirsten and Fannie de Villiers as debutantes.
Meanwhile, Australia won the draw and chose to hit first in the MCG. Australia fielded an unchanged XI game that beat India by 8 wickets in Adelaide a few days ago.
India made four changes, in addition to Gill and Siraj, Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant also returned to the Indian side.
Australia leads the series of four games 1-0.